SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Shoplifting

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions the Crown Prosecution Service has successfully brought for shoplifting in each of the last three years.

Vera Baird: While Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) records include details of proceedings for theft, they provide no discrete count of offences of shoplifting. The figures in the following table, provided by the Office of Criminal Justice Reform, relate to persons for whom stealing from shops and stalls was recorded as the principle offence.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004 68,541 
			 2005 64.076 
			 2006 58,536

Working Practices: De Grazia Report

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps the Serious Fraud Office is taking in response to the recommendations of the De Grazia report on its working practices.

Vera Baird: Since the publication of the report in June, the Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has made a number of changes designed to strengthen the leadership team, improve staff training and to shorten the time it takes to get SFO cases into court.

CPS: Diversity and Equality

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps she is taking to improve diversity and equality in the staffing of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Vera Baird: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is implementing a comprehensive set of actions to further improve diversity and equality in employment, building on existing progress. Actions are underway in key areas of staff representation, staff engagement, policy development, staff development and support for staff networks.

Vexatious Claims

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the level of vexatious claims.

Vera Baird: No assessment is made of the level of vexatious litigation in general. But when vexatious claims are made there are various orders the courts can make to restrain such litigation. Among them are orders under section 42 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 for which the Attorney-General alone may apply after the referral of potential cases to her by judges and other interested parties.

Corruption

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment she has made of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's recent report on the UK's progress towards meeting its anti-bribery recommendations; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: We value the OECD Working Group's report and will take their comments into account as we continue with our ongoing work to reform our laws and enhance our mechanisms for tackling overseas corruption.

Courts: Northamptonshire

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment she has made of the effects of staff shortages in the Northamptonshire Courts Service on the progress made in the prosecution of cases in those courts.

Vera Baird: My contact with the local Crown Prosecution Service suggests that there is no impact on their work as a result of any staff shortages there may be in the Northamptonshire Court Service.

OLYMPICS

Departmental Liability

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister for the Olympics on what dates in each of the last five years she has informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to her responsibilities or those of non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible.

Tessa Jowell: Details of the Interim Olympic Delivery Authority's (iODA) expenditure and contingent liabilities for 2005-06 are contained in the DCMS 2005-06 resource accounts which were laid in the House Library on 24 July 2006.
	Details of the Olympic Delivery Authority's (ODA) contingent liabilities are contained in the ODA's 2006-07 and 2007-08 resource accounts, which were laid in the House Library on 19 July 2007 and 21 July 2008 respectively.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Liberal Democrats: Finance

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2242W, on Liberal Democrats: finance: what developments there have been in relation to the investigation since that Answer.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that the position remains as stated in the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 16 May 2007,  Official Report, column 748W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) cautions and  (b) arrests were recorded for alcohol-related offences in (i) the St Austell and Truro district, (ii) Cornwall and (iii) England in the last eight quarters for which records are available.

Alan Campbell: The information requested covering offences of (a) drunkenness, (b) drunkenness with aggravation, (c) offences against the licensing acts, (d) other offences against intoxicating liquor laws, (e) selected motoring offences is provided in the table. The Office for Criminal Justice Reform is unable to provide data for the St. Austell and Truro district or for Cornwall, as the data are not collected at the level required.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery.
	Information on arrests for the offences presented in the table is not collected centrally as they are not notifiable offences and do not form part of the arrests collection.
	With the exception of these offences, it is not possible to separately identify whether arrests and prosecutions for other offences were alcohol related from the data reported to the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice.
	
		
			  Number of offenders cautioned( 1)  for alcohol related offences( 2)  and issued with penalty notices for disorder (PNDs)( 3)  in the Devon and Cornwall police force area and England, broken down by quarter, 2005 - 06( 4,)( )( 5) 
			   2005  2006 
			   Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4 
			  Devon and Cornwall police force area 
			 PNDs 368 400 500 565 483 594 605 616 
			 Cautions 55 49 65 61 58 69 115 99 
			  
			  England 
			 PNDs 9,063 9,168 9,799 12,856 10,261 12,415 11,964 13,630 
			 Cautions 1,942 2,092 2,035 1,985 1,521 1,314 1,269 1,304 
			 (1) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. 2. Includes offences of: (a) Drunkenness simple. (b) Drunkenness with aggravation simple. (c) Offences by licensed person. (d) Other offences against intoxicating liquor laws. (e) Driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. (3) Includes all alcohol related penalty notices for disorder: Drunk and disorderly Selling alcohol to person under 18 Selling alcohol to a person who is drunk Supplying alcohol to a person under 18 Purchasing alcohol for person under 18 in licensed premises Purchasing alcohol for person under 18 for consumption in a bar in licensed premises Delivering alcohol to person under 18 or allowing such delivery Being drunk in a highway, other public place or licensed premises Consuming alcohol in designated public place Consuming alcohol by person under 18 in licensed premises Allowing consumption of alcohol by person under 18 in licensed premises Purchase of alcohol by a person under 18 (4) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (5) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made for underage drinking in Islwyn constituency in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery.
	Offences in relation to underage drinking are not notifiable offences and do not form part of the arrests collection.

Assaults on Police

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on police officers were recorded in each of the last five years; and how many prosecutions there were for such assaults in each year.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 21 October 2008
	The available information is given in the following tables. Figures for the number of assaults without injury on a constable are taken from the police recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office and relate to offences recorded. These figures are on a financial year basis. Assaults without injury are categories which apply specifically to the recorded crime data. If an assault on a police officer results in injury then the offence will be recorded under the appropriate wounding classification (i.e. more or less serious wounding).
	Prosecutions data come from the Office for Criminal Justice Reform and relate to defendants. These figures are on a calendar year basis. The data refer to prosecutions for assault on a constable which may include cases where an officer receives an injury (unlike the recorded crime data). Because of this and the fact that one dataset looks at offences and the other at defendants, the figures in the two tables are not directly comparable.
	
		
			  Table 1. Recorded offences of assault without injury on a constable 
			   Number of offences 
			 2003-04 22,189 
			 2004-05 23,604 
			 2005-06 22,217 
			 2006-07 21,749 
			 2007-08 20,457 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2. Defendants proceeded against for offences of assault on a constable( 1) 
			   Number proceeded against 
			 2002 16,371 
			 2003 18,274 
			 2004 19,876 
			 2005 20,074 
			 2006 19,118 
			 (1 )May include injury.

Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of crime and disorder reduction partnerships.

Alan Campbell: Following a review of the partnerships provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the duties to produce three yearly audits and to report annually to the Secretary of State on a partnership's work and progress were repealed in 2007. They were replaced by new statutory requirements in 2007 to introduce minimum standards for partnership working based on six hallmarks of effective practice, providing clear statements of the core functions of CDRPs and CSPs.
	Since the introduction of the minimum standards we have been focusing on gaining an understanding of how well partnerships are addressing the minimum standards. In order to continue to ensure CDRPs/CSPs are effective in delivering community safety outcomes for the public, we are in the process of analysing how partnerships have been progressing with implementing the minimum standards.
	Officials have also undertaken a major programme of consultation over the summer and have met representatives from many partnerships and partner organisations in order to update our understanding of the needs of CDRP/CSPs, including hearing about what more can be done to help them be effective. Our findings will inform a national support framework for partnerships. The framework will take account of the impact of the changes brought in through the minimum standards and seeks to understand the gaps in capacity and capability setting out what we will do to continue to support partnerships.
	The Home Office's Police and Partnership Standards Unit has also undertaken confidential un-graded assessments of around 30 CDRPs/CSPs over the last two and half years at the invitation of partnerships. They were assessed against their compliance with the six hallmarks contained within the Home Office publication "Delivering Safer Communities: A guide to effective partnership working, published in 2007."
	Government offices provide a link between CDRPs/CSPs and central Government. They work closely with partnerships to offer support and guidance on meeting their objectives.

Crimes of Violence

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each police force area have  (a) been issued with a direction to leave under section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 and  (b) been arrested following a failure to comply with such direction since the introduction of the legislation.

Alan Campbell: The information requested on the number of directions to leave issued by the police, and arrests for failing to comply with the direction to leave is not collected centrally.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery.
	Offences of failing to comply with directions to leave under section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 are not notifiable offences and do not form part of the arrests collection.

Criminal Records Bureau: Standards

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1432W, on the Criminal Records Bureau: standards, how many of the disputes resulted in the applicant's complaint being upheld and the record amended in each year.

Meg Hillier: The total number of disclosures where the details released by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) were disputed by the applicant and subsequently upheld is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			   Total number of upheld disputes  Total number of disclosures issued 
			 2003-04 1,739 2,284,688 
			 2004-05 2,265 2,430,937 
			 2005-06 2,669 2,770,265 
			 2006-07 2,797 3,277,957 
			 2007-08 2,785 3,323,251 
		
	
	The CRB enhanced its recording of disputes during 2005-06. Prior to this, the CRB did not hold figures for disputes not upheld.
	Information released on a disclosure can be disputed for a number of reasons including the inclusion of locally held non-conviction information which the applicant believes to be inaccurate or misleading; situations where an applicant has had their identity stolen; or the inclusion of data which an applicant was unaware would appear on the disclosure.

Departmental Internet

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the  (a) absolute unique and  (b) total visitors to her Department's mylifemyid website have been from computers in her Department and its agencies.

Meg Hillier: It is not possible to provide the information requested as the web analytics package that is used for mylifemyid (Google Analytics) does not provide the IP addresses of people visiting the website.

Genetics: Databases

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people had a DNA sample removed from the national DNA database in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 1997;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of people who requested the removal of their sample from the national DNA database in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 1997 subsequently had it removed.

Alan Campbell: In relation to the number of records removed from the national DNA database each year, I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Jenny Willott) on 6 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 136-38W.
	In relation to the number of people who have requested the removal of their record from the national DNA database, I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 2 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 909-10W.

Genetics: Databases

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals  (a) under 13 and  (b) between (i) 13 and 15, (ii) 16 and 18 and (iii) 19 and 21 years of age have had their DNA profiles placed on the national DNA database.

Alan Campbell: The number of profiles added to the national DNA database by English and Welsh forces, broken down by the age ranges in the question, is given in the following table. This shows age at the time the DNA sample was taken, not the person's current age. The position as at 30 September 2008 is shown.
	As it is possible for a person's profile to be loaded on to the NDNAD on more than one occasion, some profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates. This can occur, for example, if the person provided different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests, or because profiles are upgraded. Therefore, the number of individuals on the NDNAD is the number of subject profiles reduced by the replication rate. At present, the replication rate is estimated to be 13.3 per cent. The table shows both the number of profiles and the estimated number of individuals.
	
		
			  Age on load  Total subject profiles  Estimated individuals 
			 Under 13 113,053 98,017 
			 13-15 510,236 442,375 
			 16-18 699,075 606,098 
			 19-21 604,527 524,125

Human Trafficking: Children

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many trafficked children have been identified following police raids on illegal cannabis factories in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: No central records are kept on juvenile offenders who may have been victims of trafficking. It is not therefore possible to give a reliable figure. However, I am aware that concerns have been raised by a number of children's charities about the arrest of children found in cannabis factories in the UK.
	Guidance was issued in 2007 by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead on child trafficking to all chief constables requesting that children found working in cannabis factories and other such illegal and criminal activity should be properly screened to identify whether they are child victims of trafficking.
	Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance to crown prosecutors advises that where children are known to have been trafficked and coerced to commit criminal acts, cases should be discontinued on evidential grounds. Where the information concerning coercion is less certain, further details should be sought from the police and youth offender teams so that the public interest in continuing a prosecution can be considered carefully.

Human Trafficking: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residents of Hertfordshire were  (a) arrested,  (b) prosecuted and  (c) convicted for crimes relating to human trafficking in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: To date of the seven arrests and prosecutions resulting from activity related to these offences by Hertfordshire Constabulary there have been no convictions.

Identity Cards

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters of  (a) support and  (b) opposition she has received on the subject of the identity card scheme in the last 12 months.

Meg Hillier: Correspondence received regarding the national identity scheme is not recorded as being in support of or in opposition to identity cards.
	The volume of correspondence on the national identity scheme is recorded each month. The detail of the correspondence received is recorded by theme. The list of themes is not exhaustive and can be added to as required. One letter can generate multiple themes.
	From October 2007 to September 2008, the number one theme every month, accounting for by far the most common subject matter, has been "Wants an ID Card". Other themes which regularly feature in the top 10 themes each month are "Cost" (of the scheme and to individuals), "Civil Liberties" and "General Information".

Identity Cards: Airports

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from what point in an airport  (a) airline pilots and crew who are foreign nationals and  (b) airside airport workers who are UK nationals will be required to carry an identity card.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 14 October 2008
	There will be no requirement to carry an identity card, in fact the Identity Cards Act specifically precludes the requirement to carry a card.

Identity Cards: Finance

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1568W, on identity cards: finance, whether the costs of registering individuals' fingerprint biometrics are being attributed to the common costs of both passport and identity registration; and what the evidential basis is for the statement of 19 December 2006,  Official Report, column 139WS, that around 70 per cent. of the scheme's costs are required to keep UK passports up to international standards.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 12 September 2008
	The figure of 70 per cent. has since been recalculated to reflect the updated rollout plans announced in the National Identity Scheme Delivery Plan published on 6 March 2008.
	The latest six monthly Identity Cards Scheme Cost Report, published on 6 May 2008, sets out those elements of the cost estimates that relate specifically to passports, those specific to identity cards and those that are common to both.
	The cost of registering individuals for passports and identity cards is included in common costs because the same technology infrastructure and business processes will be used. In many cases, the same application will result in the issue of both a passport and an identity card.
	The latest Cost Report may be found at:
	http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/publications-legislative.asp
	I would refer the hon. Member to that report.

Identity Cards: Young People

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department and the Identity and Passport Service paid Ipsos MORI for the research, compilation and publication of Identity and Passport Service, Proof of Age Research.

Meg Hillier: The amount paid to Ipsos MORI to conduct the Proof of Age research was £79,778 (excluding VAT).

Identity Cards: Young People

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many comments were received from the mylifemyid.org consultation website; how many were  (a) positive and  (b) negative; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: The mylifemyid.org website was set up as a research community and not as a consultation website. Members were asked specific research questions, and the responses are still being analysed. The results of the research will be published in due course.

Lancashire Constabulary: Recruitment

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants to join Lancashire Constabulary as a police officer were rejected in each year since 2004; whether unsuccessful applicants are given reasons for their rejection on request; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Chief police officers are responsible for recruitment to their forces. They operate within a set of nationally agreed standards. Information provided by Lancashire police on the number of applications rejected from 2007 is shown in the following table; there is no information available for the number of applications rejected prior to 2007. Chief officers are not required to give reasons for rejecting applications although in most circumstances, candidates will be informed of the reasons for their rejection.
	
		
			  Lancashire police , n umber of rejected applications to become a police officer, 2007 to 31 October 2008 
			  Recruitment period  Applications rejected 
			 January 2007 820 
			 April 2007 673 
			 September 2007 702 
			 February 2008 (1)698 
			 August 2008 (1)548 
			 (1 )February and August applications are still under consideration and figures reflect rejected applications to date.

Offences Against Children: Internet

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations of suspected terrorism offences leading to arrests have revealed the use of online images of child abuse to convey information; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: This is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command.

Passports: Interviews

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost to her Department of an interview at a passport interview centre is.

Meg Hillier: Excluding the cost of depreciation of relevant set-up capital expenditure, the average unit cost of an interview at a passport centre for the financial year to date to the end of September is £76.07.

Police: Bureaucracy

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours on average were spent on patrol by police officers in  (a) the London Borough of Hillingdon and  (b) Uxbridge constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The information is not available centrally.

Police: Stun Guns

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation she has carried out on the trials of the use of Taser guns by the Metropolitan Police; and what conclusions have been reached from the trials.

Vernon Coaker: The 12-month trial into the use of Taser by specially trained units who are not firearms officers ran from 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2008. The Metropolitan Police Service were one of 10 forces who participated in the trial. The trial is currently being evaluated by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch and the Association of Chief Police Officers. The Home Office will make an announcement on the trial and the future deployment of Taser on receipt of those evaluations and of independent medical advice.

Security Guards: Licensing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources have been provided for the Security Industry Authority to meet the requirement on it to confirm the right to work of licence holders.

Alan Campbell: The ability to seek information to confirm that an applicant has the right to work in the UK has always been included in the criteria (approved under section 7 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001) upon which the SIA base its determination whether or not to grant a licence. The SIA accordingly carries out this activity within its existing core resources.

TRANSPORT

Cycling: Greater Manchester

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding his Department and its agencies have given to the Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign in the last 24 months.

Paul Clark: None. The responsibility for cycling rests with local highway authorities whose local transport plan grant includes funding for cycling.

Departmental Consultants

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has budgeted to spend on external consultants in  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11 and  (c) 2011-12.

Geoff Hoon: Specific budgets for spending on external consultants are agreed for each year in the Department's annual business planning process. As such, there are no budgets allocated yet for consultancy spending for 2009-10 and beyond.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 29 September 2008,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WS174, on the Department for Transport: official receptions, who the members are of the parking working group; what the remit is of the group; and on what dates the group has met over the last 12 months.

Paul Clark: The working group consisted of representatives from The British Parking Association, London Councils, The Automobile Association, The National Parking Adjudication Service, The Parking and Traffic Appeals Service, The RAC Foundation, North Yorkshire Police, The Local Government Association, Essex County Council, Transport For London, the Department for Transport, the Government Office for London, and the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
	Its remit was to provide the Department with advice and support in the preparation of the Parking Regulations and Statutory Guidance contained in Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.
	The Group's final meeting was on 16 March 2006.

Departmental Temporary Employment

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) contractors,  (b) consultants and  (c) staff from employment agencies work in (i) his Department and (ii) DFT Human Resources; and what the cost is of employing these staff on a monthly basis.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 3 November 2008
	The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Temporary Employment

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport from which companies the  (a) contractors,  (b) consultants and  (c) staff from employment agencies who work in (i) his Department and (ii) DFT Human Resources have been hired.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 3 November 2008
	The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of services provided to the Government Car and Despatch Agency by car and driver contractors was in each of the last five years, broken down by contractor.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government Car and Despatch Agency paid the following amounts to car and driver contractors:
	
		
			   Value (£) 
			 2007-08 1,404,946 
			 2006-07 1,135,350 
			 2005-06 1,632,514 
			 2004-05 1,357,462 
			 2003-04 1,022,606 
		
	
	Information on payments to individual contractors could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles were leased by the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) to each Government department in 2007-08; and what the monetary value of the contract between the GCDA and each Government department was in that year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Secretary of State for Transport on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 116WS. This details of the number of cars and the contracted cost of providing ministerial transport in 2007-08.
	In addition the Government Car and Despatch Agency provided cars and drivers to senior officials and others as follows:
	
		
			  Department  Number of cars  Contracted cost (£) 
			 Crown Prosecution Service 1 68,600 
			 Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 1 69,600 
			 Cabinet Office(1) 4 278,000 
			 Commission for Equality and Human Rights 1 68,800 
			 Department for Children, Schools and Family 1 66,600 
			 Department for International Development 1 65,600 
			 Department for Transport 1 68,600 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 1 60,100 
			 Export Credits Guarantee Department 1 62,200 
			 Department of Health 3 205,600 
			 HM Court Service 1 61,500 
			 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary 2 123,000 
			 HM Treasury 1 63,400 
			 Home Office(2) 11 1,231,300 
			 Ministry of Justice 1 72,900 
			 Northern Ireland Office 1 69,700 
			 Office of Science and Technology 1 63,400 
			 Wales Office(3) 1 9,400 
			 (1) Includes the provision of a driver only for the Official Leader of the Opposition. (2) Includes cars and drivers provided to former Prime Ministers and other former Ministers. (3) Car only provided.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Government cars are owned by the Government Car and Despatch Agency, broken down by  (a) model and  (b) level of tailpipe emissions.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government Car and Despatch Agency owns 231 cars as follows:
	
		
			  Make and model  Number on fleet  CO 2  emissions 
			 Toyota Prius (Hybrid) 100 104 
			 Honda Civic ES (Hybrid) 38 109 
			 Vauxhall Corsa 5 127 
			 BMW E60 520D 1 149 
			 Vauxhall Astra 1 151 
			 Vauxhall Vectra 1 157 
			 Vauxhall Vectra 1 182 
			 Vauxhall Vectra 11 186 
			 Rover 75 1 190 
			 Hyundai Sonata 7 191 
			 Ford S-Max 1 193 
			 Peugeot 607 1 193 
			 Vauxhall Zafira 1 194 
			 Ford Mondeo 4 196 
			 Jaguar XJ Diesel 17 214 
			 Ford Mondeo 6 218 
			 Hyundai Santa Fe 4 218 
			 Land Rover Discovery 7 244 
			 Rover 75 5 249 
			 Land Rover Discovery 1 249 
			 Ford Galaxy 1 260 
			 Ford Galaxy 1 264 
			 Jaguar XJ X350 1 264 
			 Ford Galaxy 4 278 
			 Rover 75 2 280 
			 Vauxhall Omega 2 284 
			 Jaguar Sov 4.0 1 285 
			 Jaguar XJ8 4.2 LWB 2 330 
			 Jaguar XJ X350 1 330 
			 Ford Sapphire 2 n/a 
			 Daimler Limousine 1 n/a 
		
	
	These figures are for all the cars owned by GCDA on 30 October 2008, including the ministerial fleet, senior officials' fleet, green cars and short-term hire fleets, training vehicles and cars leased to other Government Departments. CO2 figures are not available for the Ford Sapphire and Daimler Limousine.

Hovercraft

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the merits of hovercraft travel; if he will provide assistance to transport companies and allocate funds for the development of hovercraft transport routes; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Hovercraft have provided a useful means of travel in the UK in the past but at present there seems to be little commercial interest in setting up such facilities. Consequently there has been no need to do an assessment of hovercraft travel.

Hovercraft

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what legislation governs hovercraft travel; what  (a) statutory instruments,  (b) departmental circulars and  (c) other documents he (i) has issued in the last 12 months and (ii) plans to issue in the next 12 months consequential to the provision of such legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The legislation specifically addressing the safety and operation of Hovercraft is as follows:
	
		
			   Legislation 
			  Principal Act  
			 1968 Ch 59 Hovercraft Act 1968 
			   
			  Statutory Instruments  
			 1972 No: 674 Hovercraft (General) Order 
			 1972 No: 971 Hovercraft (Application of Enactment)Order 
			 1972 No:1531 Hovercraft (Birth, Deaths and Missing Persons) Regulations 
			 1986 No: 1305 Hovercraft (Civil Liability) Order 
			 1987 No: 1835 Hovercraft (Civil Liability) (Amendment) Order 
			 1989 No: 1350 Hovercraft(Application of Enactment) Order 
			 1996 No: 3173 Hovercraft (General) (Amendment) Order 
			 1997 No: 320 Hovercraft (Fees) Regulations 
			 2004 No: 302 Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations, amended by 2004/2883, 2005/2114, 2006/2055 
		
	
	If the vessel carries more than 12 passengers then a number of standard passenger shipping Regulations are also applicable, addressing matters such as Passenger Counting, International Safety Management Code and tonnage.
	In addition merchant shipping environmental regulations on Anti-Fouling Paint systems, Oil, Air Quality, Garbage and Sewage Pollution Prevention apply as to other vessels.
	If the hovercraft is of 500 gross tonnage or over then it will require a Safe Manning Document.
	If on international voyages then the International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code applies.
	In addition the following Departmental Guidance is applicable:
	MSIS011: High Speed Craft Code (1994) Instructions for the Guidance of Surveyors
	MSIS 024: High Speed Craft Code (2000) Instructions for the Guidance of Surveyors
	These address High Speed Craft in general, and apply to larger hovercraft built after 1996.
	(i) None of these documents have been issued in the last 12 months.
	(ii) The following are planned for issue in the next 12 months:
	 (a) Statutory Instruments :
	Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Amendment Regulations. This is planned to incorporate IMO updates to the HSC Code.
	 (b) Departmental Notices:
	An update to MSIS 024 "Instructions for the Guidance of Surveyors HSC Code 2000" to take account of the HSC Code 2000 amendments which came into force 1 July 2008.
	There will also be a new set of "Instructions for the Guidance of Surveyors HSC Code 2000, 2008 Edition" to be published to take account of HSC Code amendments in force from 1 July 2008 for vessels built after this date.
	 (c) Other Documents:
	None.

Metronet: Contracts

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of Metronet going into administration upon the delivery of its commitment under its public-private partnership contract.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Following the PPP administration of Metronet on 18 July 2007, both Metronet companies transferred to Transport for London on 27 May 2008. Transport for London, together with London Underground and the Government, are currently considering the future structure for the lines previously the responsibility of Metronet. A key consideration is to ensure that the major upgrades due to be completed on the Victoria, Metropolitan, Circle, District and Hammersmith and City lines are not significantly affected by Metronet's failure.
	The comprehensive spending review 2007 settlement sets out the expected levels of Transport for London's grant and borrowing to 2017-18. This generous funding package worth some £40 billion over the next 10 years makes provision for the continued modernisation of the underground and costs arising from Metronet's administration. Government will continue to work with London Underground and Transport for London to ensure that these upgrades can be delivered.
	Passenger safety remains of paramount importance. London Underground has always retained overall responsibility for passenger safety on the network and the Office of Rail Regulation regulates health and safety on the underground.

Motor Vehicles: Accidents

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has undertaken research comparing accident rates among young drivers in the UK with other European countries.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Yes. The most recent comparisons are in an OECD report 'Young Drivers: The Road to Safety' published in October 2006. The Department for Transport participated in its preparation. A summary of that study is available online at
	http://213.253.134.43/oecd/pdfs/browseit/7706011E5.PDF.
	Recent casualty statistics for Great Britain are available from the Department's website at
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/casualtiesgbar/.

Motorway Service Areas: Repairs and Maintenance

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the letter from his Department, dated 30 June 2008, on Newport Pagnell Services, what recent correspondence the Highways Agency has had with Welcome Break Ltd regarding the repair of the access barrier from the service station to Little Linford Lane; and for what reasons the promised repair has not been carried out.

Paul Clark: Following the receipt of complaints from Newport Pagnell Town Council regarding the rear access barrier at Newport Pagnell Motorway Service Area (MSA), the Highways Agency (HA) wrote to Welcome Break on 3 July 2008. Welcome Break responded on 7 July 2008 to confirm that the barrier had been re-instated and that it was fully operational. However, following this, Welcome Break wrote to the HA on 11 July 2008, to highlight that the barrier had been vandalised again by traffic trying to access the local road network. I understand that Welcome Break has recently implemented a more robust barrier system which is now fully operational.
	During regular liaison meetings, the HA and MSA operators have discussed various options to provide a longer term solution to unauthorised use of rear access roads at MSAs and are currently considering options.

Official Cars

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Government Ministers are provided with a ministerial car; and what the cost of providing ministerial cars was in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Secretary of State for Transport on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 116-118WS.

Official Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was of providing Government cars in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information about the cost of providing the Government Cars Service has been published each year since 1998 in the annual report and accounts of the Government Car and Despatch Agency, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Official Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used to determine eligibility  (a) for a Government car and  (b) for access to a vehicle supplied by car and driver contractors.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Prime Minister sets out who is entitled to an official car and driver in the ministerial code and the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) provides cars and drivers in line with this guidance.
	It is for GCDA to decide how best to meet and resource the demands for official transport for ministers and others. There are no set criteria for using outside contractors; each request for GCDA's services is dealt with individually.
	All the contractors used have been appointed through an open competition run under OJEU procurement procedures. Once appointed, all private contractor drivers must obtain security clearances to the same level as GCDA's own drivers.

Official Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) permanent secretaries have chosen not to make use of a Government car.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) does not provide permanently allocated official cars and drivers to eight Ministers and nine Permanent Secretaries.

Official Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if will make it his policy to ensure that British-built cars are purchased to add to the Government fleet.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1205W.

Port of Hull

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of  (a) imports and  (b) exports passed through the Port of Hull in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In 2007 the port of Hull handled 3.3 per cent. of UK seaborne imports by weight, and 1.8 per cent. of seaborne exports. (Approximately 96 per cent. of all UK imports and exports are carried by sea.)

Ports: Non-domestic Rates

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2008,  Official Report, column 144W, on ports, if he will place in the Library a copy of the assessments that have been made of the financial impact on ports of the retrospective increases in business rates.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The Valuation Office Agency have a duty to maintain correct rating lists and where inaccuracies are identified in the list they have a duty to correct them. They do not, and are not required to, undertake impact assessments as part of their statutory functions.

Railways

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the necessary capacity increases which will be needed on the rail network in each of the next eight years in order to reach the goal of doubling the level of demand rail can accommodate by 2016, as stated in his Department's White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway.

Paul Clark: "Delivering a Sustainable Railway" sets out the level of demand to be accommodated on the railway in terms of passenger kilometres per route, and peak demand in London and other urban areas by 2013-14. This equates to an increased demand to be accommodated of 22.5 per cent. by 2013-14. This has not been expressed as an annual incremental target, because the timing of the additional capacity will depend on commercial negotiations which are in progress.

River Thames: Freight

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to promote use of the River Thames for  (a) passenger and  (b) freight traffic; what recent representations he has received about this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Passenger services on the Thames, and their promotion, are a matter for Transport for London and the Mayor of London. As far as freight is concerned, the Department for Transport has a number of initiatives to stimulate the greater use of water for freight transport. In particular, it currently provides start-up support to the Sea and Water Organisation, an industry-led body that actively promotes the use of water for freight. In addition, the Department's Sustainable Distribution Fund provides financial incentives to stimulate the greater use of water for freight transport through the Freight Facility and Waterborne Freight Grant schemes.

Road Traffic: Greater London

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge on levels of traffic congestion in East and South East London.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Thames Gateway Bridge is a Transport for London (TfL) led project and it is therefore for them, in the first instance, to make an assessment of traffic impacts. The Department for Transport reviewed the evidence presented at the Thames Gateway Bridge public inquiry in summer 2006 to confirm the deliverability of the scheme and the need to make funding provision. Since then, no further assessment has been carried out by the Department.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the 1,300 new railway carriages, that the Government committed itself to making available in the High Level Output Specification, have been ordered by train operating companies.

Paul Clark: Train operators have so far ordered 423 new carriages.

Satellites

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what use his Department makes of data obtained from earth observation satellites; and what payment is made for such data, where applicable.

Geoff Hoon: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency use satellite derived images to monitor pollution at sea within 200 miles of the United Kingdom. These are obtained under the Clean Seas Net system supported by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). No direct payment is made for these images, although the UK does pay a subscription to EMSA.

Wines

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's practice is on supplying non-alcoholic wine as a choice at official receptions or functions.

Geoff Hoon: Government Hospitality (GH), in Protocol Directorate, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, manages official ministerial hospitality for all Government Departments. GH does not serve branded 'low alcohol' or 'alcohol-free' wine at any of its events, and has no plans to do so.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Reservoir: Ringmer

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with South East Water on the establishment of a reservoir near Ringmer, East Sussex; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: South East Water has included a proposal for a reservoir near Ringmer as part of its draft Water Resources Management Plan. These are statutory plans, and have recently been subject to public consultation. Ministers have not at this stage entered into any discussions with South East Water on its proposals, although officials, especially at the Environment Agency, have done so.

Water Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the level of the average water bill in 2009-10.

Jane Kennedy: Based on each company's draft business plans for 2010 to 2015, companies in England and Wales expect the average annual household bill for 2009-10 to be £326. Ofwat will be in a position to say what the forecast average household bill in 2009-10 will be after it has approved companies 2009-10 charges schemes, early in 2009.

Water Services

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he last met the chief executive of Ofwat to discuss the level of charges for water services.

Hilary Benn: My right hon. friend, the Minister for Food and Farming, met the chief executive of Ofwat on 29 October 2008. Their meeting included discussion of water charges.

GM Crops

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the effects of genetically modified crops on the environment.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Under European Union legislation, proposed GM crops are subject to a robust case-by-case assessment of their potential impact on human health and the environment. We will only agree to the release of a GM crop if we are fully satisfied that it is safe, based on the evidence.

Environmental Monitoring

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the contribution of the Kopernikus programme to environmental monitoring.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA has undertaken several studies to assess the benefits of Kopernikus in the UK and supported further studies in Europe, in order to ensure that decisions taken on the programme are based upon sound evidence. These studies show that Kopernikus data could contribute to our understanding of the environment, when combined with information from the many other monitoring and research programmes that the UK supports.

Heathrow: Air Quality

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the effects on air quality in the area around Heathrow of the proposed third runway.

Hilary Benn: I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues about air quality and noise in relation to transport, including plans around Heathrow.

Sheep Identification

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to introduce the electronic identification of sheep; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Council Regulation 21/2004 provides for the mandatory introduction of electronic identification of sheep from 31 December 2009. There is a serious risk of disallowance on our farm payments and potential EU infraction proceedings if we fail to comply with EU law. We will therefore introduce electronic identification in England from 31 December 2009.

Flooding: Pitt Report

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress his Department has made in implementing the recommendations made in the Pitt report on flooding.

Hilary Benn: We have already taken a number of steps in response to Sir Michael Pitt's findings, which I reported to the House on 25 June 2008, and we will be publishing a detailed response, together with a prioritised action plan shortly.

Animal Disease Strategy

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in his Department's discussions with the farming industry on sharing the costs of the animal disease strategy.

Jane Kennedy: Considerable progress has been made with the farming industry on responsibility and cost-sharing, as reflected in the 2006 report of the Joint Industry-Government Working Group and the work of the Consultative Forum between December 2007 and July 2008. We will be looking to build on this as part of an extensive consultation on specific proposals for sharing responsibilities and costs for animal health in England which the Government intend to launch later this year.

Supermarkets: Pricing

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with farmers' representatives on the pricing of their goods in supermarkets.

Jane Kennedy: None. We do not discuss prices offered by supermarkets as we believe they are for the market to determine within the constraints of competition law. The Department, at both official and ministerial level, holds frequent discussions with different sectors of the industry on a range of issues that concern them, including the encouragement of long-term sustainable relationships between suppliers and retailers.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Research

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what his policy is on whether any reduction in bovine tuberculosis in areas which were examined by the Independent Scientific Group might be deemed as new scientific evidence; [R]
	(2)  what research on bovine tuberculosis transmission has been carried out or commissioned by his Department in the areas where culling took place under the Krebs trials in the period after Professor Bourne and the Independent Scientific Group reported; [R]
	(3)  if he will meet Helen Jenkins of the Institute of Zoology to discuss the research she has undertaken on bovine tuberculosis.

Jane Kennedy: No licences will be issued for culling badgers for the purpose of preventing the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle although we remain open to exceptions. Circumstances might arise in the longer term which require a re-evaluation of the policy. New scientific evidence which, for example, supports changes to a culling methodology may change the position.
	New evidence around the reduction in bovine TB in areas involved in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) could be relevant, but that would depend on the reasons for the decrease and the time scale over which it was observed. The paper, "The effects of annual widespread badger culls on cattle tuberculosis following the cessation of culling" by Helen Jenkins and Christl Donnelly from Imperial College and Rosie Woodroffe from the Institute of Zoology, published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases in May 2008 showed some changes over the course of the RBCT and over the period after culling stopped. However this evidence was fully considered by the Secretary of State before making his decision in July.
	Other research that has been carried out in the RBCT areas includes the monitoring of badger numbers through distance sampling. Recently four further projects have been commissioned to use the data collected during the RBCT, including projects to consider the effects on herd breakdowns in relation to the time and location of badger culling.
	A meeting with Helen Jenkins of Imperial College is welcome since her work is included in a DEFRA-funded project which looks at herd incidence in areas involved in the RBCT since culling stopped. This project will continue until 2011 and the Secretary of State is kept-up-to-date on progress.

Carbon Emissions: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether local authorities will be compensated for the regulatory costs of the carbon reduction commitment.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no plans to provide additional funding to local authorities in regard to their participation in the Carbon Reduction Commitment. There are already funding streams in place to help local authorities monitor and reduce their energy use via the Local Authority Performance Framework Climate Change Indicators and the SALIX Finance fund. The additional administration costs of the emissions monitoring required by the Carbon Reduction Commitment are not substantial.
	Overall the energy efficiency benefits of participating in the Carbon Reduction Commitment are calculated to outweigh the administrative costs. Economic analysis indicates that local authorities are well placed to perform well in the scheme as there are significant opportunities for local authorities to increase the energy efficiency of their operations.

Climate Change: Crops

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the potential impact of climate change on crop yields.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA has a strong ongoing programme of research on agriculture and climate change. This includes many strands of research that inform our knowledge of the potential effects of climate change on the production of crops and other agricultural products. Topics covered by recent studies include: the vulnerability of UK agriculture to extreme events; the timescale of potential farm level responses and adaptations to climate change in England and Wales; physiological and technological constraints on the yields of UK crops and livestock and expectations of progress to 2050; and challenges from climate change for disease management in sustainable arable systems.
	As part of the climate change adaptation project within DEFRA's Farming for the Future programme, a major literature review has recently been completed to bring together and summarise the significant body of research by DEFRA and other organisations on the effects of climate change on agricultural systems (including both agricultural production and the natural environment), and potential adaptation measures. The findings of this review show that climate change presents a range of both threats and opportunities to agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the five most serious disciplinary breaches in his Department were in the last 12 months; and what steps were taken in response to each breach.

Huw Irranca-Davies: There have been fewer than five disciplinary cases in the Department in the last 12 months. As such the details of the cases cannot be disclosed on the grounds of confidentiality.

Domestic Wastes

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 9 October 2008,  Official Report, column 713W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, what targets or goals have been set for local authorities in relation to national indicator 191 on residual household waste.

Jane Kennedy: The targets set for local authorities in relation to national indicator 191 are displayed in the following table.
	
		
			 Kilograms 
			  Region  Authority  Waste disposal authority (if waste collection authority)  2006/07 (baseline)  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 London Barnet LB North London Waste Authority 746 690 662 625 
			 South West Bath and North East Somerset Council n/a 660 596 569 530 
			 West Midlands Birmingham City Council MBC n/a 908 785 737 727 
			 London Camden LB North London Waste Authority 557 503 483 464 
			 North West Cheshire County Council n/a 835 1475 1432 1414 
			 London City of London LB n/a 647 623 598 574 
			 South West Cornwall County Council n/a 856 778.93 713.49 685.36 
			 South West Council of the Isles of Scilly n/a n/a 1503 1448 1349 
			 West Midlands Coventry City Council n/a 825 800 770 735 
			 North West Cumbria County Council n/a 930 702 694 687 
			 North East Durham County Council n/a 840 741 684 673 
			 London Enfield LB North London Waste Authority 737 732 709 688 
			 Eastern Essex County Council n/a 763 710 685 670 
			 London Hackney LB North London Waste Authority 690 647 595 540 
			 London Havering LB East London Waste Authority 951 832 809 776 
			 West Midlands Herefordshire Council n/a 852 762 759 691 
			 South East Isle of Wight n/a 873 870 867 864 
			 South East Kent County Council n/a 836 762.4 732.8 703.8 
			 London Lewisham LB n/a 859 785 754 716 
			 North West Manchester City Council MBC n/a 758 726 636 613 
			 South East Medway n/a 821 838 793 742 
			 London Merton LB n/a 716 733 712 691 
			 North East Middlesbrough Borough Council n/a 914 849 840 790 
			 South East Oxfordshire County Council n/a 726 730 723 715 
			 London RB Kingston upon Thames n/a 818 753 645 624 
			 London Richmond LB West London Waste Authority 681 613 582 553 
			 North West Rochdale MBC Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority 682 537.44 480.15 424.1 
			 East Midlands Rutland County Council n/a 958 821 758 733 
			 South West Somerset County Council n/a 630 587 540 475 
			 South East Southampton City Council n/a 793 753 742 731 
			 West Midlands Staffordshire County Council n/a 803 800 775 735 
			 West Midlands Telford and Wrekin Council n/a 841 791 734 690 
			 West Midlands Walsall MBC n/a 850 833 795 760 
			 West Midlands Warwickshire County Council n/a 849 746 702 671 
			 South East West Berkshire District Council n/a 1040 1000 850 800 
			 North West Wigan MBC n/a 922 775 730 690 
			 South West Wiltshire n/a 726 697.5 690.19 663.1 
			 Yorkshire and Humber York City Council n/a 723 640 617 611

Electronic Equipment: Recycling

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what processes are in place to encourage recycling of products to be disposed of under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and how these processes are publicised by his Department.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK WEEE regulations place a number of obligations on the producers and distributors of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to provide information to consumers as to how best they can dispose of their old equipment to help protect the environment. These obligations came into force from 1 July 2007.
	The Department has worked closely with all stakeholders and interested parties to ensure that all are aware both of their obligations under the regulations and of the new arrangements. It will continue to do so as, and when, these are reviewed and changes are made.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the products by  (a) amount and  (b) weight of waste products under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive which go to (i) recycling and (ii) landfill.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	The waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive introduced producer responsibility for WEEE. Producers must pay for the treatment and recycling/recovery of separately collected WEEE in the UK.
	During the first compliance period that ended on 31 December 2007, a total of 184,334.13 tonnes of WEEE was recorded in the UK as having been sent for recycling and energy recovery.
	Data on the final amounts going to landfill are not kept.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made towards the review of the operation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and what amendments he proposes to its implementation in the UK.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	A review of the UK's WEEE regulations was announced by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Energy at a WEEE stakeholder event on 9 July 2008. A full 12-week public consultation exercise will be undertaken to decide whether any changes to the existing regulations are necessary. It is hoped that this consultation will begin before the end of the year so that any changes can be put into place for the start of the 2010 compliance period.

Fisheries: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the size of the bluefin tuna fleet in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean; and what proposals on bluefin tuna fleet capacity he plans to put forward at the forthcoming meeting of the contracting parties of the International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna in Marrakech.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) will be discussing a wide range of issues concerning the bluefin tuna stocks in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean.
	At the last meeting of the capacity working group held in Madrid in July 2008, it was agreed that measures needed to be taken to reduce the size of the fleet operating in this fishery. Work has already started on reduction of the EU fleet with a freeze on capacity already agreed, and scaling down will follow. The EU will be urging other contracting parties within the fishery to take similar action.
	DEFRA fully supports this action as it is clear that over capacity of the fleet is a contributory factor to over fishing.

Fisheries: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department plans to attend the meeting of the contracting parties of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna in Marrakech as part of the EU delegation.

Huw Irranca-Davies: As part of the EU delegation, a DEFRA representative will be attending this year's annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

Horses: Animal Breeding

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there are plans for his Department to begin keeping records of equine semen imports to the UK.

Jane Kennedy: Records are kept by Animal Health at each local animal health office. All consignments of imported semen are required to be accompanied by health certification under EU law. Animal Health carries out checks on consignments to ensure health conditions are met.

Horses: Animal Breeding

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to assist horse breeders in verifying the provenance of imported equine semen.

Jane Kennedy: All consignments of imported semen are required to be accompanied by health certification under EU law. Animal Health carries out checks on consignments to ensure health conditions are met.

Horses: Conservation

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on stewardship payments for Heritage Trust List ponies in the last three years; and how many Heritage Trust Pony passports have been issued since the scheme was established.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Natural England holds information on Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreements which support farmers grazing native breeds, including Dartmoor ponies. However, information on the individual breeds is not recorded centrally and will have to be assembled separately by looking at individual agreements. I will place this information in the Library by the end of December.
	ES expenditure on grazing by rare breeds (equines, sheep, cattle or goats) paid since the scheme started in February 2006 is £543,760, on 220 agreements (£223,584 in the south-west region, on 82 agreements).
	426 Heritage Trust List passports have been issued since the scheme was established.

Incinerators

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the extent of regulatory compliance of commercial hazardous waste incinerators; and what procedures are in place for the inspection of such incinerators.

Jane Kennedy: The regulation and compliance assessment of hazardous waste incinerators is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency ensures compliance with permit conditions which are based on national legislation and European directives, and places operator monitoring returns on public registers. In case of a breach of the permit conditions, the Environment Agency takes action in accordance with its published policy on enforcement and prosecution. It also carries out plant inspections at a frequency determined on the basis of risk using its operator performance and regulatory assessment (OPRA) tool.

Meat Products: Exports

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with US Administration officials on the export of British meat-based products to the US.

Jane Kennedy: Working closely with industry, we are focusing our resources on those third countries where there is likely to be the greatest success in obtaining access for British meat exports. We will continue to play a full role in EU negotiations with the US to lift their current ban on ruminants and ruminant products introduced as a result of the BSE epidemic.

Members: Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford's letter of 23 July (Reference: MC 95922/TP) concerning Mrs. C Anstey of Chelmsford; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply.

Huw Irranca-Davies: A reply to the hon. Member's letter, signed by Lord Hunt, was sent on 27 October. A holding reply was sent on 11 August.
	I can only apologise for the delay in responding which was due to an unfortunate combination of necessary policy updates, parliamentary summer recess and the changeover to DEFRA'S ministerial line-up.

Organic Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the current economic situation on demand for  (a) organic,  (b) free range and  (c) fair trade food.

Jane Kennedy: The Government have not made their own assessment of the impact on demand for these categories of food, but we do monitor data collected by others on changes to consumer purchasing of food and we maintain good contacts with producers and with the major retailers. Early indications suggest that sales of organic products are falling while sales of fair trade products are holding up.

Packaging: Waste Disposal

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent efforts his Department has made to encourage retailers to reduce waste from packaging; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Waste and Resources Action programme (WRAP) is working with retailers through the Courtauld Commitment. The Courtauld Commitment is a voluntary agreement between WRAP, DEFRA, the Scottish and Welsh Governments and the UK grocery sector to achieve significant reductions in household packaging and food waste. WRAP announced on 28 July that the grocery sector has achieved the first objective—to end packaging growth in the UK—despite unanticipated challenges including 1.8 per cent. growth in the grocery sector and population growth of 0.5 per cent. per annum. The commitment is due to run until 2010. Discussions are ongoing for an ambitious successor agreement. Currently 32 major retailers, representing around 92 per cent. of the grocery sector, have signed up to this agreement. In addition, individual supermarkets have made their own additional commitments to reduce even further the amount of packaging they use.

Polytunnels

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the contribution polytunnels make to  (a) surface water run-off and  (b) flood risk in rural areas.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 4 November 2008
	 The Secretary of State has not engaged in any discussions with the Environment Agency regarding this issue.

Recycling

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the volume of  (a) total and  (b) recyclable waste produced in England, broken down by (i) source and (ii) type of waste, in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: The available estimates of total waste in England by source and type of waste for 1998-99, 2002-03, 2004 and 2006 are presented in Table 1. Recycling and reuse figures are only available by sector in 1998-99 and 2002-03 (Table 2), and are presented by waste type for 2004 and 2006 (Table 3). Estimates for intervening years have not been made.
	
		
			  Table 1: Estimated total waste by source and type in 1998-99, 2002-03, 2004 and 2006 
			  Million tonnes 
			   Paper and card  Animal and vegetable  General and mixed  Metals and scrap equipment  Mineral wastes and residues  Chemical and other  Total 
			  1998-99
			 Agriculture — — — — — — n/a 
			 Mining and quarrying — — — — 72.0 — 72.0 
			 Industrial 2.6 2.1 19.3 3.9 12.2 5.1 45.1 
			 Commercial 2.4 0.4 19.8 0.5 0.2 0.4 23.7 
			 Construction and demolition — — — — 69.2 — 69.2 
			 Sewage — — 0.9 — — — 0.9 
			 Dredgings — — — — 15.1 — 15.1 
			 Household — — 23.5 — — — 23.5 
			 Total 5.0 2.5 63.5 44 168.7 55 249.5 
			 
			  2002-03
			 Agriculture — — 0.3 — — — 0.3 
			 Mining and quarrying — — — — 67.0 — 67.0 
			 Industrial 2.7 4.1 9.3 2.8 12.9 5.7 37.6 
			 Commercial 6.0 22 18.4 0.9 1.0 1.9 30.3 
			 Construction and demolition — — — — 90.9 — 90.9 
			 Sewage — 1.0 — — — — 1.0 
			 Dredgings — — — — 14.2 — 142 
			 Household 1.1 1.2 22.1 0.4 — 1.0 25.8 
			 Total 9.8 8.3 50.2 4.1 186.1 8.6 267.2 
			 
			  2004
			 Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 — 0.1 0.3 
			 Mining and quarrying — — — — 70.9 — 70.9 
			 Industrial 2.6 4.5 8.4 2.8 12.2 4.3 34.8 
			 Commercial 6.2 2.4 19.3 2.2 1.0 1.4 32.5 
			 Construction and demolition — — 0.9 3.4 90.9 — 95.3 
			 Sewage — — 1.3 — — — 1.3 
			 Dredgings — — 0.0 — 13.1 — 13.1 
			 Household 1.8 2.0 21.1 1.6 — 0.0 26.6 
			 Total 10.7 8.9 51.1 10.0 188.1 5.9 274.8 
			 
			  2006
			 Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 — 0.1 0.3 
			 Mining and quarrying — — — — 61.2 — 61.2 
			 Industrial 2.4 4.3 7.4 2.5 9.8 3.0 29.3 
			 Commercial 7.4 1.9 19.4 2.1 1.7 1.2 33.9 
			 Construction and demolition 0.5 — 9.8 1.5 89.6 — 101.4 
			 Sewage — — 1.2 — — — 1.2 
			 Dredgings — — 0.0 — 12.3 — 12.3 
			 Household 1.5 2.7 20.4 1.6 0.5 0.0 26.7 
			 Total 11.8 9.0 58.4 7.8 175.1 44 266.4 
			  Sources: 1. Agricultural waste is estimated from the Environment Agency's model of agricultural waste arisings. 2. Mining and quarrying wastes are estimated from production and ratios of waste to product. Estimates may be revised in light of implementation of the Mining Waste Directive. 3. Industrial and commercial wastes estimates are from the Environment Agency's National Waste Production Survey in 1998-99 and 2002-03. Data for later years are estimated from the 2002-03 survey data and updated business population figures. This provides an indicative estimate of waste arisings, but does not capture changes in waste management or resource use since the 2002-03 survey. Therefore, these estimates should be interpreted with some caution. 4. Construction and demolition wastes estimates are from the survey into alternatives from primary aggregates, commissioned by Communities and Local Government in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005. Figures for 2004 and 2006 includes estimates for non-aggregate wastes from this sector. 5. Sewage waste estimates are provided by Water UK. 6. Dredging wastes are from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. 7. Household waste is from local authority returns to the municipal waste management survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Waste reused/recycled by source in 1998-99 and 2002-03 
			  Million tonnes 
			   1998-99  2002-03 
			 Agriculture n/a n/a 
			 Mining and quarrying — — 
			 Industrial 19.0 18.7 
			 Commercial 5.7 12.1 
			 Construction 24.4 45.5 
			 Sewage 0.9 1.0 
			 Dredgings — — 
			 Household 2.1 3.7 
			 Total 52.2 80.9 
			  Sources: As for Table 1, a waste type breakdown is not available.  Notes: 1. Recycling is defined as the reprocessing in a production process of the waste materials for the original purpose or for other purposes including organic recycling but excluding energy recovery. This includes composting and household recycling. 2. Estimates for recycled wastes are based on that which is reported as being sent for recycling and will include exported wastes. 3. Most of the generated waste from mining and quarrying activities are replaced into the resulting void which is currently classified as deposit into land. Estimates for mining wastes may change in light of implementation of the Mining Waste Directive. 4. Sewage sludge is predominantly spread on land for agricultural purposes. 5. Dredging wastes are disposed of at sea. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Waste reused/recycled in 2004 and 2006 
			  Million tonnes 
			   2004  2006 
			 Paper and card 6.2 3.5 
			 Animal and vegetable 6.5 9.5 
			 General and mixed 5.6 3.1 
			 Metal and scrap 4.1 8.9 
			 Mineral 67.6 75.1 
			 Chemicals other 6.9 12.1 
			 Total 96.8 112.1 
			  Sources: 1. Estimated from returns made by licensed waste operators to the Environment Agency, survey of exempt sites in 2006. 2. National Packaging Waste Database estimates derived from the National Waste Production Survey 2002-03 for 2004. 3. Survey of Alternatives to Primary Aggregates, Water UK.

Seals

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage EU action to ban seal products from entering the EU.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Commission proposals for a ban on the import of seal products into the EU were discussed for the first time by the Council of Ministers on 20 October. We will work closely with the Council and other member states to ensure a workable ban is introduced as quickly as possible.

Sewers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many miles of new sewers were built in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: The following table shows how many miles of sewers were built as a result of new growth across the sewerage network by all the sewerage companies in England and Wales, in each of the last 10 years. This includes sewers built by developers and adopted by the sewerage companies
	The table also shows how many miles of sewers, across the sewerage network have been replaced or renovated by all the sewerage companies in England and Wales, in each of the last 10 years. These figures are made up of critical and non critical, renovated and replaced sewers.
	All figures relate to both gravity sewers and rising mains.
	Ofwat holds this information in kilometres but the figures have been converted into miles.
	
		
			  Miles 
			   New sewers  Sewers 
			   new growth  renovated  replaced 
			 1998-99 1,000 (1)113 (1)50 
			 1999-2000 771 (1)65 (1)53 
			 2000-01 1,247 114 67 
			 2001-02 728 103 62 
			 2002-03 793 125 117 
			 2003-04 631 93 80 
			 2004-05 700 82 77 
			 2005-06 626 91 88 
			 2006-07 619 153 122 
			 2007-08 627 131 127 
			 (1) Figures do not include non critical sewer replacements or renovations as data were not collected for these years.  Note: Conversion rate: 0.6214 mile per 1 km 
		
	
	The figures do not include private sewers in England and Wales which are not the responsibility of water and sewerage companies.

Slaughterhouses

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what practical support his Department provides for small abattoirs.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 3 November 2008
	I applaud the efforts of small abattoir owners in carving out for themselves high value niche markets based on locally produced good quality meat and meat products.
	In support of these efforts DEFRA officials are actively engaged with the Food Standards Agency and Meat Hygiene Service in making sure that meat hygiene controls are proportionate to the risk and that meat hygiene charges, currently under review, do not disproportionately affect small abattoirs.
	In addition DEFRA awarded a grant under the agricultural development scheme to the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) which is assisting them to develop an accredited quality assurance scheme for small and medium size abattoirs.

Veterinary Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on veterinary services by his Department in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA expenditure on veterinary services, including those services provided by the Animal Health Agency, Veterinary Laboratories Agency and Veterinary Medicines Directorate in each of the last five years was as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 117.9 
			 2004-05 117.6 
			 2005-06 130.9 
			 2006-07 136.8 
			 2007-08 132.5

Warm Front Scheme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which model of boiler has been most commonly specified for installation through Warm Front grants in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	The boiler most commonly installed through the Warm Front scheme in years 2006-07 and 2007-08 is the Ideal Isar HE, an automatically controlled, fanned flue, 'A' rated combination boiler.
	Boiler manufacturers were invited to enter a competitive tender process managed by Plumb Centre and overseen by DEFRA as part of the 2005 Warm Front retender process. Of the tenders received DEFRA chose Ideal as the preferred first choice boiler for the scheme.

Warm Front Scheme

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications for a Warm Front grant from residents of  (a) Carshalton and Wallington constituency,  (b) Greater London and  (c) England were (i) received, (ii) accepted and (iii) declined in each year since 2000.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	Applications for Warm Front grants received, accepted and declined in each year since 2000 are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  (a) Carshalton and Wallington 
			   Qualifying for assistance  Not qualifying for assistance  Total 
			 2000-01 174 10 184 
			 2001-02 184 15 199 
			 2002-03 129 21 150 
			 2003-04 369 36 405 
			 2004-05 351 46 397 
			 2005-06 140 25 165 
			 2006-07 173 48 221 
			 2007-08 220 40 260 
			 2008-09 121 34 155 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Greater London 
			   Qualifying for assistance  Not qualifying for assistance  Total 
			 2000-01 23,689 942 24,631 
			 2001-02 32,130 2,140 34,270 
			 2002-03 21,786 3,100 24,886 
			 2003-04 16,997 1,806 18,803 
			 2004-05 20,831 2,517 23,348 
			 2005-06 14,623 3,417 18,040 
			 2006-07 15,436 5,407 20,843 
			 2007-08 28,200 9,911 38,111 
			 2008-09 11,435 3,814 15,249 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) England all 
			   Qualifying for assistance  Not qualifying for assistance  Total 
			 2000-01 191,720 8,904 200,624 
			 2001-02 271,458 21,074 292,532 
			 2002-03 211,903 19,190 231,093 
			 2003-04 169,315 13,537 182,852 
			 2004-05 183,074 16,349 199,423 
			 2005-06 191,632 29,627 221,259 
			 2006-07 287,041 68,946 355,987 
			 2007-08 325,198 65,423 390,621 
			 2008-09 144,233 28,236 172,469

Waste Management

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the volume of waste exported from the UK, broken down by  (a) type of waste and  (b) destination country in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: Data on shipments of notifiable wastes are collected by Government agencies in the UK to comply with the Basel Convention. However, these wastes represent a very small (1 per cent.) proportion of total waste movements, and the majority is non-notifiable, or "green list" waste. While it is not a requirement for the "green list" forms to be reported to the Environment Agency in England and Wales, movements of green list waste can be estimated from HM Revenue and Customs trade database. However, these data are indicative, since in many cases the categories under which trade data are reported do not differentiate between exported wastes and products. Estimates of non-notifiable waste movements from trade data have only been made for 2006.
	Total waste exported from the UK in 2006 is estimated to have been approximately 13 million tonnes. Of this, around 4.7 million tonnes was exported to within the EU, and 8.4 million tonnes outside the EU. Green list waste accounts for 99 per cent. of waste exports.
	Of the estimated 12.9 million tonnes of exported green list waste, the majority was accounted for by metals (8.2 million tonnes) and paper (4 million tonnes). See following table for further details.
	
		
			  Types of waste exported from the UK 
			  Waste type  Exports (thousand tonnes) 
			 Metallic 8,181 
			 Paper 3,996 
			 Plastic 441 
			 Glass 136 
			 Wood 25 
			 Other 129 
			 Grand total 12,908

Waste Management: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with Gloucestershire County Council on its waste strategy, with particular reference to its landfill capacity and landfill allowance trading scheme costs;
	(2)  whether his Department has discussed with Gloucestershire County Council the use of the Javelin Park site for waste purposes.

Jane Kennedy: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not had any recent discussions with Gloucestershire county council on its waste strategy. The selection of sites for waste treatment purposes is a matter for the local authority in question, not DEFRA.
	DEFRA officials have discussed Gloucestershire's bid for private finance initiative (PFI) credits and the extent to which it is compliant with PFI criteria. A discussion of sites has arisen in that context, but at this stage we cannot discuss specific locations as this may have an adverse impact on any potential negotiations.

Water Supply

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many miles of drinking water pipes have been replaced in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: The following table shows how many miles of pipes have been replaced or relined by all water companies in England and Wales, in each of the last 10 years.
	Ofwat hold this information in kilometres but the figures have been calculated into miles. In some cases companies choose to reline pipes rather than replace them.
	
		
			  Water service 
			  Industry total (lengths in miles) 
			   Renewed ( i.e.  replaced)  Relined  Total mains rehab 
			 1998-99 2,419 1,180 3,599 
			 1999-2000 2,536 1,314 3,851 
			 2000-01 1,547 992 2,538 
			 2001-02 1,739 1,414 3,153 
			 2002-03 1,759 1,166 2,926 
			 2003-04 1,693 1,147 2,840 
			 2004-05 1,468 1,032 2,499 
			 2005-06 1,679 991 2,670 
			 2006-07 1,924 913 2,837 
			 2007-08 1,910 709 2,619 
			  Notes: 1.Conversion rate: 0.6214 mile per 1 km 2. Figures may not add up due to rounding

Weedkillers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2008,  Official Report, column 435W, on manure, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the use of aminopyralid as a herbicide.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The pesticides safety directorate has informed the European Commission and member states of the developments in the UK on aminopyralid.

Wood: Carbon Emissions

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department holds on trends in the level of sales of wood-burning stoves over the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the effect of such trends on levels of emissions targeted through his Department's air quality strategy.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 3 November 2008
	DEFRA does not hold information on the level of sales of wood-burning stoves over the last 12 months. The Government operate an extensive national air quality monitoring network, and data from this network give no indication that wood-burning appliances have had any measurable impact on air quality over the last 12 months.
	The consultation on a Renewable Energy Strategy, issued by the Government in June, proposed a substantial increase in the use of biomass for heat, including log and other wood burning appliances. DEFRA is conducting research into the likely effect of this on air quality, and the results will be available shortly.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Education

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the Government's response to the Defence Committee's Third Report of Session 2004-05, on duty of care, Cm 6620, what the findings were of the research into the impact of poor basic skills on drop-out rates from Phase 1 and Phase 2 training; and what steps he has taken to enhance remedial education programmes in the Armed Services.

Bob Ainsworth: The intended research referred to in the question has been superseded by a three-year longitudinal study into the broader consequences of poor basic skills provision within the armed forces. The study commenced in October 2007, being sponsored jointly by the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills.
	Considerable progress has been made within the last three years in terms of formalising and enhancing the provision, for those that require it, of basic educational support within the armed forces. The strategic framework for this support is provided by the Armed Forces Basic Skills Policy (February 2007), which details how early assessment and systematic support are to be provided at the earliest stages for those that require it. The publication of the Defence Policy for Support of Specific Learning Difficulties (March 2007) provides detailed guidance on how to maximise the learning potential for those personnel diagnosed as falling within this category of need.
	At the operational level, there is significantly more awareness across the armed forces of the importance of effective basic skills provision. Although practical delivery is provided by an expanded group of civilian basic skills tutors, there has been a concerted effort to increase the delivery skills of military educators. From 2007, an additional £8 million was provided over a three-year period for support to delivery. The adult learning inspectorate "Better Training" Report of 2007 acknowledges the progress made and makes special reference to the changes made in the Army's Common Military Syllabus in order to embed literacy and numeracy skills within the early stages of training.

Armed Forces: Intimidation

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints by new recruits to the armed forces of bullying or harassment were  (a) made,  (b) upheld and  (c) not upheld in 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: Officials are collating the information requested. When this work is complete I will write to my hon. Friend.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Joan Humble:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 3 November (Official Report, column 59W) about complaints of bullying and harassment by new recruits.
	Complaints of bullying and harassment are maintained in individual unit logs and upwardly reported on a bi-annual basis covering the periods October-March and April-September. For the 12 month period from October 2006-September 2007, 169 complaints of bullying or harassment were made by new recruits to the Armed Forces. Of these 126 were upheld and 43 were not.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings have been made by changes in the Armed Forces Pension Scheme that prevent regular reservists in receipt of a service pension from accruing call-up time for pension purposes.

Kevan Jones: The reserve forces pension scheme (RFPS) was introduced on 6 April 2005 for individuals who, on or after that date, were mobilised under Parts 4, 5 or 6 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 or entered commitments under Sections 24 or 25 of that Act. RFPS is a non-contributory, final salary scheme with no vesting period for preserved benefits. A new scheme for new entrants to the regular armed forces was also introduced on 6 April 2006—the armed forces pension scheme 2005 (AFPS 05).
	On mobilisation, reservists are given a pension choice. They can join RFPS, join or remain with the state second pension (S2P) or remain with their civilian occupational pension arrangements. If they opt to join or remain with S2P, the MOD pays the contracted-in rate of national insurance and if they opt to remain with their civilian occupational pension arrangements, the MOD will pay the employer's contribution to that arrangement. Membership is not compulsory and those who join RFPS may opt out at any time.
	Prior to the introduction to RFPS the armed forces arrangement which formed one of the options available to mobilised reservists was the armed forces pension scheme 1975 (AFPS 75). AFPS 75 has a two-year qualifying period for members' benefits. The only mobilised reserves who received anything from AFPS 75 were those with preserved AFPS 75 pension and those who were already in receipt of an AFPS 75 pension. Those mobilised from, for example, the Territorial Army, who had no previous AFPS 75 award, left with only notional benefits. These notional benefits could be transferred out of AFPS 75 into another occupational pension scheme or into S2P. AFPS 75 was closed to new entrants on 6 April 2005 when AFPS 05 and RFPS were introduced.
	The introduction of RFPS means that all members receive preserved benefits for their reckonable service. If they have several periods of mobilised service for which they opt to be RFPS members, they will have a preserved award for each. These preserved benefits constitute a pension and a pension lump sum worth three times the pension. RFPS was not introduced to produce a saving: what it has introduced is equal treatment for all mobilised reserves who choose to join it.

Armed Forces: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of armed forces personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The information requested is detailed in the UK Armed Forces Psychiatric Morbidity Reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and from the Defence Analytical Services and Advice website:
	www.dasa.mod.uk
	The Ministry of Defence recognises mental illnesses, including PTSD, as serious and disabling conditions, but also that many conditions can be treated successfully. Measures are in place to increase awareness at all levels, which include pre-and post-deployment briefing and the availability of support, assessment and (if required) treatment, both during and after deployments. This is available to all personnel, whether Regular or mobilised Reservists.
	In Iraq and Afghanistan, we deploy highly skilled and experienced uniformed mental health nurses to provide the necessary in-theatre care and treatment for our personnel. If personnel do need to leave the operational environment, then their care continues either on an out- or in-patient basis in the UK.
	There is a clear post-operational stress management policy in place across all services. Where practical, and this is in the main for formed units, we arrange for a decompression period during which servicemen can begin to mentally and physically unwind after their operational tour while having time to talk to colleagues and superiors—with whom they have deployed—about their experiences. The single services have their own arrangements to deal with individual augmentees.
	Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) has been formally accepted and implemented by the Royal Marines, Royal Navy and the Army, and is being trialled in selected RAF units. TRiM is a model of peer-group mentoring and support for use in the aftermath of traumatic events. It trains non-medical staff to spot those who might have been affected by traumatic events in order that their peers and leaders can provide them with appropriate support or, where it is required, to refer them for specialist help.
	Where further specialist help is required it is provided primarily through our 15 military Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) across the UK (plus satellite centres overseas), which provide out-patient mental health care. A wide range of psychiatric and psychological treatments are available, including medication, psychological therapies, and environmental adjustment where appropriate. The Defence Mental Health Services have extensive experience in psychological treatments for mental health problems in general and psychological injury in particular. In the relatively few cases where in-patient care is necessary, this is provided in dedicated psychiatric units under contract.
	Finally, the families of personnel returning from operations are also offered presentations and issued with leaflets to alert them to the possible after-affects of an operational deployment. Welfare officers, Padres, and other associated organisations also provide information to families by e-mail, support groups, regimental systems and so on.

Armed Forces: Training

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the minimum supervisory ratio is for each establishment on the defence training estate to exercise its function in accordance with duty of care obligations; what progress has been made in meeting these requirements; and what the mechanism is for reviewing levels of supervision.

Bob Ainsworth: There is no set minimum supervisory ratio for each establishment on the training estate. All unit commanders are required to establish effective supervisory care regimes and to publish their supervisory arrangements in a supervisory care directive appropriate to the circumstances and conditions of the training being undertaken. The care requirement in all Phase 1 and 2 training establishments is determined on the basis of a unit commander's risk assessment which takes into account the particular factors at the unit such as the nature of the trainee population in terms of size, age and maturity and the location and type of the activity being undertaken. The care regime must establish appropriate levels of supervision and welfare cover not only during training but also out of hours, at weekends and during leave or stand-down periods.
	Unit commanders are required to review regularly their supervisory requirements and liaise with Service Training Headquarters when seeking to adjust their manpower complements. All training establishments have now reviewed the number and disposition of supervisory staff against the supervisory care policy. In some areas a requirement for additional staff was identified and appropriate funding approved.
	Arrangements for supervision are reviewed as part of inspection programmes carried out by the Defence Individual Training Capability (DITC) and Ofsted.

DA Notices

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many D-notices have been issued in each year since 1997-98.

Kevan Jones: D Notices were replaced by the Defence Advisory (DA) Notice System in 1993. The DA Notice System is overseen by the Defence Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee (DPBAC), a joint Government/media body. Full details of the DA Notice System can be found on
	www.dnotice.org.uk.
	Since January 1997, the DPBAC Secretary has issued DA Notice letters of advice to all UK editors on the following occasions:
	1997: No record of any letter being issued
	1998: No record of any letter being issued
	1999: Three letters
	2000: Two letters
	2001: Three letters
	2002: One letter
	2003: Two letters
	2004: Two letters
	2005: Two letters
	2006: Two letters
	2007: Seven letters
	2008: Five letters to date

Defence Estates

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons implementation of the Military Lands Act byelaws at his Department's sites has not taken place in accordance with the published timetable.

Kevan Jones: Significant delays in the progression of the MOD Byelaws Review have occurred because objectors secured a judicial review of the implementation of the first of the new byelaws at AWE Aldermaston, which came into force on 31 May 2007.
	Byelaws work was placed on hold, pending the decision by the High Court. Following the High Court's determination of the judicial review claim, which was substantially in the MOD's favour, the objectors successfully sought leave to appeal the High Court's decision to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal hearing is scheduled for late November. The appeal is limited to issues relating to the manner and form of protests against nuclear weapons, and as a result ministerial approval has been given to restart the byelaw process for non-nuclear MOD sites across the UK.
	Reviews have already commenced at some 96 sites including 13 sites designated under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 and it is expected that new byelaws will be submitted progressively for ministerial approval from April next year. An updated version of the project plan reflecting the new revised timetable will shortly be published on the Department's Byelaws Website:
	www.defence-estates.mod.uk/byelaws/internet/intro.php

Departmental Buildings

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 253W, on departmental buildings, in what form his Department records the  (a) cost and  (b) nature of departmental property refurbishment.

Kevan Jones: The term "refurbishment" is not one formally used by the MOD. Work which might be categorised as "refurbishment" can range from minor modifications and maintenance of buildings, to their complete restoration. Some "refurbishment" may also be addressed through private finance initiatives.
	The information is therefore not held in the format requested.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's rest and recuperation leave policy for civilians working in operational theatres.

Kevan Jones: Yes, a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Consultants

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many external consultants work for his Department.

Kevan Jones: Specific data on the number of consultants employed by the Ministry of Defence are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, MOD expenditure on external assistance, which includes management and other types of consultancy, has been reported to Parliament since 1995-96: summaries are available in the Library of the House.
	Furthermore, information on organisations, including consultancy firms, paid £5 million or more by the MOD in each financial year is published in the UK Defence Statistics. Copies are also available in the Library.

Departmental Electricity

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on electricity bills  (a) for its Whitehall offices and  (b) in the UK as a whole in each month of each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: In each month of the last five financial years, the following amounts were spent on electricity for the Department's Whitehall buildings; Main Building and the Old War Office Building.
	
		
			  2003-04 
			  £ million 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Total 
			 MB 0.03 0.043 0.043 0.043 0.045 0.042 0.044 0.044 0.046 0.046 0.044 0.045 0.515 
			 OWO 0.041 0.036 0.036 0.034 0.036 0.035 0.036 0.035 0.036 0.037 0.035 0.04 0.437 
			 Total 0.071 0.079 0.079 0.077 0.081 0.077 0.08 0.079 0.082 0.083 0.079 0.085 0.952 
		
	
	
		
			  2004-05 
			  £ million 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Total 
			 MB 0.044 0.057 0.056 0.047 0.053 0.046 0.04 0.049 0.048 0.045 0.047 0.048 0.580 
			 OWO 0.114 0.017 0.006 0.006 0.040 0.048 0.048 0.047 0.047 0.048 0.043 0.046 0.510 
			 Total 0.158 0.074 0.062 0.053 0.093 0.094 0.088 0.096 0.095 0.093 0.09 0.094 1.090 
		
	
	
		
			  2005-06 
			  £ million 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Total 
			 MB 0.057 0.057 0.056 0.061 0.160 0.128 0.126 0.126 0.135 0.137 0.127 0.095 1.265 
			 OWO 0.053 0.051 0.056 0.057 0.057 0.054 0.055 0.052 0.053 0.053 0.053 0.052 0.646 
			 Total 0.11 0.108 0.112 0.118 0.217 0.182 0.181 0.178 0.188 0.19 0.18 0.147 1.911 
		
	
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  £ million 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Total 
			 MB 0.221 0.205 0.213 0.237 0.217 0.208 0.204 0.199 0.196 0.203 0.184 0.199 2.486 
			 OWO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.024 0.052 0.054 0.049 0.078 0.257 
			 Total 0.221 0.205 0.213 0.237 0.217 0.208 0.204 0.223 0.248 0.257 0.233 0.277 2.743 
		
	
	
		
			  2007-08 
			  £ million 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Total 
			 MB 0.376 0.205 0.201 0.211 0.213 0.203 0.204 0.204 0.191 0.201 0.189 0.194 2.592 
			 OWO 0.051 0.053 0.054 0.055 0.055 0.042 0.041 0.015 0.050 0.053 0.050 0.052 0.571 
			 Total 0.427 0.258 0.255 0.266 0.268 0.245 0.245 0.219 0.241 0.254 0.239 0.246 3.163 
		
	
	Although the Department centrally records annual expenditure on electricity worldwide, it would incur disproportionate cost to identify the amounts spent for individual countries, including the UK, and to provide a breakdown by month.
	The total spent worldwide in each of the last five financial years, excluding that on overseas operations, such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Financial year 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Worldwide total 93 108 135 162 160 
		
	
	These figures do not include expenditure by the MOD's Trading Funds, which are not included within the MOD's accounting boundary.

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people aged over  (a) 55 and  (b) 60 years of age were recruited by his Department in 2007-08; and what percentage in each case this was of the number of new recruits.

Kevan Jones: The following table shows the intake of civilian personnel aged 55 and above, and 60 and above for 2007-08, in respect of headcount and percentage of total.
	
		
			  2007-08 
			   Headcount  Percentage 
			 Civilian personnel intake aged 55 and above 480 8.9 
			 Civilian personnel intake aged 60 and above 180 3.3 
			 Total civilian personnel intake 5,340 — 
			  Notes: 1. All numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. These figures include civilian intake data for the top level budgets and trading funds, but exclude data for locally engaged civilians and royal fleet auxiliary personnel for whom intake data by age are not known.

Ex-servicemen: Employment

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the proportion of military personnel from the North East returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan which has been able to find alternative employment on leaving the armed forces in each of the last three years.

Kevan Jones: Information on alternative employment of military personnel leaving the armed forces and the residential location of military personnel on discharge is not held centrally and therefore it is not possible to provide the requested estimate without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The Department does however hold employment statistics, in six-monthly tranches, for those service leavers seeking employment and using the services of the MOD's resettlement contract, which is known as the Career Transition Partnership. For the last three years available, from October 2004 to September 2007, the percentage of service leavers in employment within six months of discharge is an overall 94.7 per cent.

Gurkhas

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gurkhas joined the British Army prior to 1 May 1997; and what estimate he has made of the number of dependants of Gurkhas who served in the British Army prior to that date.

Kevan Jones: The Brigade of Gurkhas became part of the British Army on 1 January 1948, following Indian independence. Between 1948 and 1997, some 30,100 Nepalese men joined the Brigade.
	There are no data readily available to give a reliable estimate of the number of dependants for this group of Gurkha veterans.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to date has been of the deployment of forces in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan.

John Hutton: MOD identifies the costs of operations in terms of the net additional costs it has incurred, that is the costs that the Department would have incurred regardless of the operation taking place, such as wages and salaries, are not included. Savings on activities that have not occurred because of the operation—training exercises for example—are also taken into account in arriving at the net figures.
	The total annual audited cost of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are set out as follows:
	
		
			  Iraq 
			  £ million 
			   Operations in Iraq—resource costs  Expenditure on capital equipment  Total 
			 2002-03 629 218 847 
			 2003-04 1,051 260 1,311 
			 2004-05 747 163 910 
			 2005-06 798 160 958 
			 2006-07 787 169 956 
			 2007-08 1,055 402 1,457 
			 Total to date 5,067 1,372 6,439 
		
	
	
		
			  Afghanistan 
			  £ million 
			   Operations in  Afghanistan —resource costs  Expenditure on capital equipment  Total 
			 2001-02 187 34 221 
			 2002-03 236 75 311 
			 2003-04 36 10 46 
			 2004-05 58 9 67 
			 2005-06 148 51 199 
			 2006-07 560 178 738 
			 2007-08 1,071 433 1,504 
			 Total to date 2,296 790 3,086 
		
	
	The forecast of spend for Iraq and Afghanistan in 2008-09 will be bid for in the Winter Supplementary Estimates which is due to be published in mid-November.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cost control regime applies to the joint strike fighter programme; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: Cost control for the UK contribution to the joint strike fighter system development and demonstration phase is exercised through a US/UK Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which fixes our contribution at $2 billion. The UK has an incremental acquisition strategy for aircraft production and through life support in accordance with the production, sustainment and follow on development MOU. The UK can purchase aircraft when required to meet our affordability and capability requirements.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the target offtake of the joint strike fighter is; and what it was estimated to be in 2004.

Quentin Davies: The UK has adopted an incremental acquisition strategy to procure and support JCA. The number that will be acquired will be set when the programme reaches sufficient maturity and will also be shaped by defence needs at the time.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the joint strike fighter will be able to carry and fire  (a) Storm Shadow and  (b) Brimstone.

Quentin Davies: The joint strike fighter (JSF) will enter into UK service with a baseline air to air and precision air to ground capability. Decisions on the integration of future weapons capabilities have yet to be taken but under current planning assumptions both will be integrated on JSF.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which UK weapons systems are to be fully integrated to the joint strike fighter.

Quentin Davies: The Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) and Paveway IV are being fully integrated into joint strike fighter during the system development and demonstration phase of the programme.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the total cost of the joint strike fighter programme.

Quentin Davies: The UK's total procurement cost is likely to be up to £10 billion, depending on the number and timing of aircraft required. Through life support for joint combat aircraft will also be shaped by the number and timing of aircraft deliveries and will be announced when the programme is sufficiently mature.

National Recognition of our Armed Forces Inquiry

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the responses of those listed as consulted in Appendix 2 of the Report of Inquiry into the National Recognition of the Armed Forces by the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford are published.

Bob Ainsworth: The responses of those consulted in Appendix 2 of the Report of Inquiry into the National Recognition of the Armed Forces by my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies) has not been published as the consultations were conducted on a non-attributable basis.

National Recognition of our Armed Forces Inquiry

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the list of people consulted in Appendix 2 of the Report of Inquiry into the National Recognition of the Armed Forces by the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford is complete.

Bob Ainsworth: I can confirm that the list of people and groups consulted in Appendix 2 of the Report of Inquiry into the National Recognition of the Armed Forces by my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies) is complete.

Warships

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current out-of-service dates are for  (a) HMS Walney,  (b) HMS Penzance,  (c) HMS Pembroke,  (d) HMS Grimsby,  (e) HMS Bangor,  (f) HMS Ramsey,  (g) HMS Blyth,  (h) HMS Shoreham,  (i) HMS Ledbury,  (j) HMS Cattistock,  (k) HMS Brocklesbury,  (l) HMS Middleton,  (m) HMS Chiddingfold,  (n) HMS Atherstone,  (o) HMS Hurworth and  (p) HMS Quorn.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1632W.

Warships

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current out-of-service dates are for  (a) HMS Ark Royal,  (b) HMS Illustrious,  (c) HMS Invincible,  (d) HMS Exeter,  (e) HMS Southampton,  (f) HMS Nottingham,  (g) HMS Liverpool,  (h) HMS Manchester,  (i) HMS Gloucester,  (j) HMS Edinburgh,  (k) HMS York,  (l) HMS Ocean,  (m) HMS Albion and  (n) HMS Bulwark.

Bob Ainsworth: Our present planning assumptions, which are routinely updated as required, are as follows:
	
		
			  Name  Out-of-service date 
			 HMS Ark Royal 2012 
			 HMS Illustrious 2015 
			 HMS Invincible 2010 
			 HMS Exeter 2009 
			 HMS Southampton 2009 
			 HMS Nottingham 2010 
			 HMS Liverpool 2012 
			 HMS Manchester 2011 
			 HMS Gloucester 2011 
			 HMS Edinburgh 2013 
			 HMS York 2012 
			 HMS Ocean 2022 
			 HMS Albion 2033 
			 HMS Bulwark 2034

Warships

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current out-of-service dates are for  (a) HMS Argyll,  (b) HMS Lancaster,  (c) HMS Iron Duke,  (d) HMS Monmouth,  (e) HMS Montrose,  (f) HMS Westminster,  (g) HMS Northumberland,  (h) HMS Richmond, (i) HMS Somerset, (j) HMS Sutherland,  (k) HMS Portland,  (l) HMS Kent and  (m) HMS St Albans.

Bob Ainsworth: Our present planning assumptions, which are routinely updated as required, are as follows:
	
		
			  Name  Out-of-service date 
			 HMS Argyll 2023 
			 HMS Lancaster 2024 
			 HMS Iron Duke 2025 
			 HMS Monmouth 2026 
			 HMS Montrose 2027 
			 HMS Westminster 2028 
			 HMS Northumberland 2029 
			 HMS Richmond 2030 
			 HMS Somerset 2031 
			 HMS Sutherland 2033 
			 HMS Portland 2035 
			 HMS Kent 2034 
			 HMS St Albans 2036

Warships

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current out-of-service dates are for  (a) HMS Cornwall,  (b) HMS Cumberland,  (c) HMS Campbeltown and  (d) HMS Chatham.

Bob Ainsworth: Our present planning assumptions, which are routinely updated as required, are as follows:
	
		
			  Name  Out-of-service date 
			 HMS Cornwall 2019 
			 HMS Cumberland 2021 
			 HMS Campbeltown 2020 
			 HMS Chatham 2022

TREASURY

Bank of England

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what non-routine interventions and injections of liquidity by his Department or the Bank of England into the financial markets there have been since 1 August 2007; and what the  (a) date,  (b) amount and  (c) date on which the action was made public was in each case.

Ian Pearson: The comprehensive financial support package announced on 8 October and the specific details announced on 13 October detail the steps taken to ensure financial stability, including the extension of the Special Liquidity Scheme providing short-term liquidity.
	The provision of liquidity to the financial markets is a matter for the Bank of England. Details of most of the Bank's scheduled operations are published on its website.

Bank Services: Fees and Charges

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints were received by the Financial Ombudsman Service on  (a) bank charges and  (b) credit card charges in each year since 1997; what recent discussions (i) he, (ii) Ministers in his Department and (iii) officials in his Department have had with the Financial Ombudsman Service on these issues; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The day to day operations of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) are independent from Government control and influence.
	Ministers and officials meet the FOS on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Banks

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on which occasions  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have met senior executives of (i) Lloyds TSB, (ii) HBOS and (iii) Bradford and Bingley in each of the last 12 months.

Ian Pearson: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Bradford and Bingley

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) duration and  (b) methodology of the sale process for Bradford and Bingley's retail deposit business and branch network was; and whether such procedures allowed for the gathering of formal asset evaluation advice.

Ian Pearson: The sale process took place on 27 and 28 September 2008. In conjunction with our legal and financial advisors we assessed the bids received on the basis of how far they met our objectives of maintaining financial stability, protecting depositors and ensuring value for money for taxpayers.

Child Care Tax Credit

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sampling checks are made with child care providers to check that tax credit claimants are genuinely paying for and using child care services.

Stephen Timms: Each year, HMRC undertakes a full compliance inquiry into a random selection of tax credits claims. As part of this exercise, in claims where a contribution towards child care has been claimed, they will check with the child care provider to ensure that the amount claimed is correct. In addition, HMRC risk assess all tax credits claims and undertake a compliance examination where sufficient risk is identified. Where it is necessary to carry out a compliance inquiry into a claim that contains help towards child care costs, they will check if appropriate with the provider any amounts of child care being claimed.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press and communications officers are employed by  (a) his Department,  (b) its non-departmental public bodies and  (c) its agencies.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Department  Press officers  Communications officers 
			 HMT (1)9 (2)13 
			 OGC 2 
			 OGCBuying Solutions 3 
			 DMO 1  
			 (1) In addition there is currently one vacancy (2) This includes 13 publishing staff

Departmental Personnel

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any permanent staff within  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies are classified as pre-surplus.

Angela Eagle: No staff at HM Treasury, DMO, OGC Buying Solutions or OGC are classified as pre-surplus.

Economic Situation

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department  (a) has commissioned,  (b) plans to commission and  (c) has evaluated on the causes of the current international financial turbulence; when his Department last undertook a review of causes of the international financial turbulence that took into account (i) UK and (ii) international research; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The ongoing turbulence has affected financial markets around the world and requires an international response. In April this year the Financial Stability Forum provided the G7 with a detailed report on the causes of the crisis and a comprehensive set of recommendations for strengthening the financial system for the future. Going forward, the FSF, with other multilateral institutions, will continue to play a central role in shaping the international response to the crisis.

Financial Services Authority

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many staff of each  (a) sex,  (b) age and  (c) grade were employed by the Financial Services Authority on (i) 31 March 2006 and (ii) 31 March 2008;
	(2)  how much officials employed by the Financial Services Authority have received in bonuses in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available;
	(3)  what criteria are used to determine whether staff employed by the Financial Services Authority receive a bonus; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: These matters are the responsibility of the FSA, whose day to day operations are independent from Government control and influence.

Financial Services Authority

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings  (a) he,  (b) Ministers in his Department and  (c) officials in his Department have had with the Financial Services Authority in each week since June 2007; what the (i) location and (ii) duration of each meeting was; whether a record of each meeting was kept; who attended each meeting; what the cost was of each meeting, broken down by (A) administrative and (B) other costs; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Ministers and officials meet the FSA on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Financial Services: Disadvantaged

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policies have been  (a) considered and  (b) implemented by his Department's Financial Inclusion Team since its establishment.

Ian Pearson: The Government's policies to increase financial inclusion were set out in 'Financial inclusion: an action plan for 2008-11'.
	Previous Government documents on financial inclusion, including 'Promoting financial inclusion', published in December 2004 and 'Financial inclusion: the way forward' published in March 2007 show how the Government have developed their financial inclusion policies over time.

Financial Services: Disadvantaged

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings have been held between his Department's Financial Inclusion Team and financial service providers since the inception of the team; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Officials from the Treasury meet and correspond with financial services providers on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of financial inclusion issues.

Government Departments: Consultants

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances the use of private sector consultants by Government Departments can be paid for from capital rather than revenue budgets.

Angela Eagle: Government Departments apply UK accounting standards as adapted and interpreted by the Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM). Expenditure on consultancy can only be capitalised where such accounting treatment is specifically allowed for by, either Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 15, "Tangible fixed assets", or FRS 10, "Goodwill and Intangible Assets".

HM Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Chief Operating Officer of HM Revenue and Customs plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan dated  (a) 15 April 2008,  (b) 9 July 2008 and  (c) 19 September 2008 on his constituent Mr. J McLaren.

Stephen Timms: I understand that the National Insurance Contributions Office wrote to the hon. Member earlier today. HM Revenue and Customs apologise for the delay in doing so.

Housing: Valuation

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 9 October 2008,  Official Report, column 800W, on housing: valuation, if he will rank each individual locality in each valuation area of Greater London according to the value significance of its co-efficient.

Stephen Timms: A list of locality reference numbers, ranked in order of value significance by valuation area, has been placed in the Library. The list is based on data extracted between 9 and 11 September 2008.
	Information that identifies the extent of each locality can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Investment Income

Peter Lilley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of dividend is to be payable on the preference capital provided to banks.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 20 October 2008
	The Treasury will receive a coupon of 12 per cent. on preference shares subscribed by the Government in the banks participating in the Government's recapitalisation scheme.

Landsbanki Bank

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guarantees his Department has extended to depositors with Landsbanki Guernsey; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 3 0 October 2008
	Arrangements for depositors in banks in Guernsey are a matter for the Government of Guernsey.
	In line with usual constitutional arrangements, the UK Government will represent the Crown dependencies in their negotiations with the Icelandic authorities.

Mortgages

Anne Moffat: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the support being offered by the banks recapitalised with public funds to mortgage holders.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 30 October 2008
	As part of its investment, the Government have agreed a range of commitments with banks accessing the recapitalisation scheme, including maintaining, over the next three years, the availability and active marketing of competitively-priced lending to homeowners at 2007 levels.
	The Government expect banks to support schemes to help people struggling with mortgage payments to stay in their homes, and to support the expansion of financial capability initiatives.

Public Finance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the savings ratio was in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2007.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question requesting the saving ratio in a) 1997 and b) 2007. (232341)
	Table 1 shows the annual household saving ratio from 1987 to 2007. In 1997, it was 9.6 per cent and in 2007, it was 2.5 per cent.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   Saving ratio (percentage) 
			 1987 5.4 
			 1988 3,9 
			 1989 5.7 
			 1990 8.1 
			 1991 10.2 
			 1992 11.8 
			 1993 10.9 
			 1994 9.3 
			 1995 10.3 
			 1996 9.4 
			 1997 9.6 
			 1998 7.4 
			 1999 5.2 
			 2000 4.7 
			 2001 6.1 
			 2002 4.8 
			 2003 5.1 
			 2004 4.0 
			 2005 5.1 
			 2006 4.2 
			 2007 2.5

Valuation Office: Databases

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham, of 7 October 2008,  Official Report, column 601W, on the Valuation Office: databases, what the timetable is for the database alignment exercise to be completed.

Stephen Timms: The work between Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and Ordnance Survey (OS) to align respective databases is a continuous improvement process.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Algeria: Religious Freedom

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Algerian counterpart in respect of that government's policy towards its Christian community; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary have had any discussions with our Algerian counterparts on this issue, but I am aware of reports emerging from Algeria concerning the closure of 'unauthorised' churches and the detention of Christians accused of evangelisation. On 22 July, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials held a meeting with a range of non-governmental organisations concerned about restrictions on the freedom of religion and belief across the world, including Algeria. Our ambassador raised this issue with the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 23 July 2008.
	The right to freedom of religion and belief in Algeria was raised on 14 April during Algeria's examination under the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review, which the UK participated in. Additionally, the EU-Algeria Association Agreement, which came into force in September 2005, restates that the principles and fundamental human rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an essential part of the agreement and must be followed by both signatories. The EU will continue to raise questions on human rights in Algeria.
	We continue to monitor the enforcement of religious laws in Algeria, and are in contact with Christian leaders in Algiers, raising individual cases when it is appropriate.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of trends in the level of attacks on villages in Congo by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA); and what his policy is on the execution of the International Criminal Court warrants issued for four LRA leaders.

Bill Rammell: The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) poses an increasingly serious threat to security in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The group carried out numerous attacks in eastern DRC in September and October 2008, targeting civilians and members of the military. The DRC armed forces have commenced an operation to contain the LRA, with the support of UN peacekeepers.
	The UK strongly supports the International Criminal Court (ICC) and urges all States Parties to co-operate fully with the Court, including by executing ICC arrest warrants. We believe that justice is an essential part of sustainable peace and it is vital that those responsible for the terrible crimes committed during the conflict in northern Uganda are held to account. Resolution of the conflict in Uganda must be compatible with the Rome Statute.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the UK has contributed to the operation of Monuc in the Democratic Republic of Congo in each of the last two years; and what the estimated contribution will be for the next year.

Gillian Merron: The UK contributes 7.8 per cent. of the cost of MONUC (UN mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo) through its assessed payments to the UN's peacekeeping budget, and also contributes through the secondment of UK military staff. During financial year 2006-07 the UK contributed £45,034,024 to MONUC, and funded six military secondees at a cost of £620,972. In 2007-08 the UK contributed £39,728,447 to MONUC, and funded six military secondees at a cost of £1,077,271. During the current financial year, we expect to contribute around £45 million through assessed costs, and £850,000 through discretionary spending on five military secondees. MONUC's current mandate expires in December 2008 and, provided it is renewed, the budget for next financial year will be agreed by UN member states at the UN's fifth Committee in June 2009.

Departmental Information Officers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full-time equivalent press officers  (a) work and  (b) provide assistance for his Department.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently employs 16 full-time press officers (15 plus one job-share).

Hamas

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has had discussions with Hamas in  (a) Gaza and  (b) the West Bank.

Bill Rammell: The UK has not been involved in any political dialogue with Hamas since 2005. However, the Government had consular discussions with Hamas members in 2007 regarding the kidnap of British journalist Alan Johnston.
	We have consistently said that we are prepared to work with Hamas if they adhere to the criteria set by the Quartet in January 2006. This means Hamas must: commit to non-violence; recognise the right of Israel to exist; recognise previous agreements signed by the Palestinian National Authority. These conditions are entirely reasonable.

Jack McConnell

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether the post to which Jack McConnell has been appointed is subject to the Ministerial code; and if he will make a statement.
	(2)  whether the post to which Mr Jack McConnell has been appointed is an office of profit under the Crown; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked Jack McConnell MSP to become his Special Representative for Conflict Resolution Mechanisms. Mr. McConnell will be based in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), working with the FCO, Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence. This appointment is not an office of profit. Nor is it subject to the ministerial code.

Japan: Whales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Japanese counterpart on whale hunting.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with his Japanese counterpart on this subject.
	The Government have consistently voiced its opposition to Japanese 'scientific' whaling. Like many members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the UK does not believe that scientific research can justify Japan's lethal whaling programme. The Government make clear this opposition not only at the meetings of the IWC, but also on a bilateral basis. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch Brown, raised this matter with the Japanese Foreign Minister in January this year, and our embassy in Tokyo makes the UK's position clear to the Japanese authorities on a regular basis.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has had talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka.

Bill Rammell: There have been very infrequent informal contacts with representatives of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). We use a variety of means to urge all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and pursue a political settlement, including contact with groups and partners with links to or influence over the LTTE.

North Korea: Politics and Government

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his United States counterpart on the political situation in North Korea.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly discusses North Korea with his American counterpart. Our embassy in Washington is also in frequent contact with US officials. Our diplomats in Seoul, Tokyo and Pyongyang discuss North Korea on a regular basis with American representatives locally.

Press

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of the press offices of  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies was in each year since 1996-97; what the cost was for each quarter since 1 April 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The annual cost of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office press office totalled £2,493,112 in the 2006-07 financial year, £1,997,897 in 2005-06, £1,744,974 in 2004-05 and £1,860,206 in 2003-04. The latest financial year for which figures are available is 2006-07; there are no records of press office costs pre-2003. Only figures for complete financial years can be provided.
	These figures are calculated on the administration costs of the press office and the cost of staff in each year, which includes basic pay, national insurance, superannuation and the London location allowance.
	Wilton Park, an executive agency of the FCO, does not employ any press officers.

Press

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many press office staff were employed by  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies (i) in each year since 1996-97 and (ii) at the latest date for which information is available.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) employed 23 full-time and two part-time (job-share) press officers in the 2007-08 financial year, 36 press officers in 2006-07, 30 in 2005-06, 26 plus one part-time officer in 2004-05 and 41 in 2003-04. There are no records for the number of press officers pre-2003.
	Wilton Park, an executive agency of the FCO, does not employ any press officers.

Rendition

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2197W, on rendition, on what date the flight records which cover the period when the two cases of rendition occurred were disposed of.

Bill Rammell: We do not have the precise date on which these records were destroyed. Customs and daily occurrence logs on Diego Garcia are generally held for around five years, and general declarations made by all aircraft on arrival are generally held for around three years.

Russia: Foreign Relations

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the Government has put forward in recent NATO discussions on managing relationships and arrangements with Russia.

Caroline Flint: The UK wants a constructive relationship between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Russia. Since 2002 the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) has promoted consultation and co-operation on a wide range of security issues. However, Russia's disproportionate actions in Georgia have put this relationship under considerable strain. NATO Foreign Ministers made clear on 19 August that there could be no business as usual with Russia. Ambassadorial level meetings of the NRC have been suspended and a number of NATO-Russia activities have been postponed.
	However, we have made clear that it is important that NATO keeps open lines of communication for hard-headed engagement with Russia, and continues co-operation where it is of strong benefit to the Alliance, particularly on Afghanistan, Counter-Narcotics and Counter-Terrorism.
	Russia must show it is prepared to meet its commitments under the 12 August and 8 September agreements, brokered by President Sarkozy. The extent to which Russia meets these commitments will determine how the relationship between NATO and Russia develops.

Somalia: Arms Trade

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the UN arms embargo on Somalia.

Gillian Merron: The UN Monitoring Group on Somalia, established under UN Security Resolution 1519 (2003), is responsible for monitoring the arms embargo on Somalia. In its latest report, published on 24 April 2008, the Group established that violations of the arms embargo continued during the period of the report, from October 2007 to April 2008. The Group reported that weapons were entering Somalia from other countries and from the region, by land and sea.
	The Monitoring Group identified a number of recommendations in order to strengthen the effectiveness of the arms embargo, including implementation of targeted measures against those who breach the arms embargo. These recommendations are being considered by the UN.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of activity of Chadian-armed opposition groups based in Darfur.

Gillian Merron: There are a larger number of armed groups, militias and bandits operating in Darfur. It is unclear who is supporting which groups. We repeatedly call on the Governments of Sudan and Chad to adhere to the Dakar agreement of 13 March 2008, which commits both governments to stop supporting each other's armed groups. The UK is an observer to the Dakar Contact Group, which monitors the implementation of this agreement.

Sudan: Arms Trade

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of arms trading with Sudan with specific reference to arms from  (a) Iran and  (b) Russia; and what assessment he has made of the effects of such trade on the situation in Darfur.

Bill Rammell: Iran has self-documented that it exported over $12 million worth of weapons to Sudan since 2004. Russia has reported transferring 33 military aircraft to Sudan since 2004 and has self-reported a further $5,567 in arms sales to Sudan that does not include aircraft.
	We note that the latest report, published on 3 October 2007, of the UN Panel of Experts which monitors the UN arms embargo on Darfur identifies violations of the embargo. The UK continues to request that the UN extend its arms embargo on Darfur to all of Sudan, but not all Security Council members agree. The EU has implemented an arms embargo on the whole of Sudan via Common Position 2005/411/CFSP.

Sudan: Human Rights

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Darfur, with reference to the incidence of human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: We remain deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Darfur and the continued incidences of human rights abuses. We continue to monitor and lobby to improve the application of human rights in Sudan and to end impunity for crimes committed in Darfur. We welcome the 24 September renewal of the mandate of Dr Sima Samar, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Sudan and look forward to Dr Samar's next report and further discussions in the Human Rights Council in June 2009.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken to encourage other countries to provide aid and assistance to the people of Sudan.

Gillian Merron: We have constant contact with members of the international community in Sudan, in the UK, and via our embassies worldwide. We regularly lobby for other countries to follow our lead in providing aid and assistance to the Sudanese people.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Sudan on the peace process in Darfur.

Gillian Merron: On 27 September, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Taha in New York. They discussed the Darfur peace process, urged progress on co-operation with the International Criminal Court, allowing full deployment of the African Union Peacekeeping Mission for full humanitarian access and working for wider political reform in Sudan, including free and fair elections in 2009.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent steps the Government has taken to promote a peaceful resolution in Sudan;
	(2)  what steps the Government has taken to monitor recent events in Sudan.

Gillian Merron: The Government are committed to a peaceful and prosperous Sudan. We continuously monitor events and take steps to promote a peaceful resolution in Sudan. Our embassy in Khartoum, our contacts with partners, international organisations, (such as the United Nations and the African Union), and non-governmental organisations, and our direct contacts with the government of Sudan inform our work.
	Throughout our engagement, we press strongly for full implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement between the north and south, progress on the Darfur political process and support to the deployment of the AU-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, and my Noble Friend the Minister for Asia, Africa and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, reiterated these messages with other UN member states at the UN General Assembly in the week of 22-27 September. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also conveyed these messages directly to Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Taha in New York on 27 September 2008.

Yemen: Terrorism

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the extent of the operations in Yemen of  (a) al Qaeda in the south of the Arabian Peninsula and  (b) the Yemen Soldiers Brigade faction; and what assessment he has made of the threat that such activities pose to the UK.

David Miliband: We are aware that members of al-Qaeda and other similar groups continue to operate in Yemen. We judge that there is a high threat from terrorism in Yemen including against western interests. Our travel advice provides further details, including on areas for which we advise against all non-essential travel.
	We are working with the Government of Yemen to counter the threat of terrorism to the UK from Yemen and to UK interests in Yemen. In the short-term we are focused on protecting British interests in a volatile security environment. In the longer-term we are developing joint work on preventing terrorism by tackling the radicalisation of individuals and reducing the threat to the UK and UK interests through disrupting terrorists and their operations.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister how many people aged over  (a) 55 and  (b) 60 years have been recruited to work in his Office in 2007-08; and what percentage in each case this was of the number of new recruits.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) on 3 November 2008,  Official Report, column 22W.

EDF Energy

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister what contracts his Office has with EDF; and how much his Office paid to EDF in each of the last 10 years, broken down by the purpose of the payment.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich East (Mr. Watson) on 4 November 2008,  Official Report, column 336W.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services: Standards

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce ambulance service response time targets at a local level.

Ben Bradshaw: Emergency ambulance response time data are collected centrally by the Department at ambulance trust level. The Department currently has no plans to change the level at which these data are collected. It is a matter for the local national health service to ensure there is appropriate provision of emergency services that are responsive to people's needs.

Arthritis: Drugs

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis ineligible for treatment with anti-TNF drugs consequent on the recent determination on sequential use made by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Dawn Primarolo: We have made no such assessment. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently undertaking an appraisal of the sequential use of anti-TNF drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. NICE has not yet issued final guidance.

Cancer

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cancer patients there were for  (a) England and  (b) each primary care trust within the South West Strategic Health Authority, broken down by form of the disease in each financial year from 1997 to 2007.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many cancer patients there were in each financial year from 1997 to 2007 for (a) England and (b) each primary care trust within the South West Strategic Health Authority, broken down by form of the disease.
	A table showing the number of newly diagnosed cases of cancer for each calendar year from 1997 to 2006 (latest available year) for the most common cancers, 'all cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer' and 'other cancers' for (a) England and (b) each primary care trust within the South West Strategic Health Authority has been placed in the House of Commons library.

Diseases: Africa

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the risks to public health from rodent-based arenaviruses originating in Africa.

Dawn Primarolo: Rodent-based arena viruses originating in Africa can cause serious human disease that can be further spread from person to person. An example of such a disease is Lassa fever. Patients in whom such an infection is confirmed, or in whom such infection is suspected, are immediately transferred to a specialist high security infectious disease unit in which the highest biological containment measures can be applied. The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens has issued guidance on the care of patients infected with such viruses and on the highest containment measures that must be taken when handling such dangerous pathogens, for example in a laboratory setting, to minimise the risk of infection.
	Specialist diagnostic facilities are provided for the detection and laboratory confirmation of such infections by the Health Protection Agency within its high containment laboratories.
	Rodent-based arena viruses are also endemic in other parts of the world, such as South America, and are also known to cause serious human disease.
	For those travelling from the UK to areas where arena viruses are endemic, advice is provided by the National Travel Health Network and Centre and the Health Protection Agency and is published on their websites.

General Practitioners

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP referrals there have been to consultants within the NHS in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The numbers of general practitioner (GP) referrals to consultants within the national health service in England in each of the last 10 years are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  GP written referrals for first out - patient appointment (consultant led): All specialties, England provider based 
			   Number of GP referrals made 
			 1997-98 8,991,722 
			 1998-99 9,139,785 
			 1999-00 9,141,425 
			 2000-01 9,362,770 
			 2001-02 9,470,342 
			 2002-03 9,655,874 
			 2003-04 9,802,237 
			 2004-05 9,776,914 
			 2005-06 9,785,960 
			 2006-07 9,337,136 
			 2007-08 9,639,029 
			  Source: Department of Health, QM08, KH09, QAR (Quarterly Activity Return).

General Practitioners: Pharmacy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the potential loss of revenue to dispensing doctors of the proposals contained in the Pharmacy White Paper; and what assessment he has made of the effects on rural general practices of the removal of dispensing rights to patients living in rural areas;
	(2)  what the projected cost is of each of the four proposed options for dispensing doctors outlined in the Pharmacy White Paper;
	(3)  what plans he has to amend the basis on which general practitioners in rural areas can dispense medicines and other products;
	(4)  what plans he has to ensure that rural communities are not adversely affected by proposed changes to dispensing arrangements for doctors; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The factors for consideration are set out in the consultation paper, "Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths—delivering the future—proposals for legislative change", published on 27 August 2008.
	As part of this consultation, we have put forward a range of options, including the option of leaving general practitioner dispensing arrangements unchanged, on which we are seeking views. The impact assessments, which have been published as part of the consultation, consider the likely effects of each of the options available.
	We have no preferred option at this stage nor have we come to a view as to whether any reform of these particular arrangements is necessary.
	The consultation paper and associated impact assessments have already been placed in the Library and are available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_087324

Health: Research

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) his Department and  (b) the Medical Research Council spent on research in each of the last five years; and what proportion of that money was spent on each (i) broad area of research and (ii) disease or condition.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department's national health service research and development budget for the five years from 2002-03 has been:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2002-03 506 
			 2003-04 533 
			 2004-05 601 
			 2005-06 617 
			 2006-07 659 
		
	
	The main part of that budget has been devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Those organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations received from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports estimate total, aggregated expenditure on the national priority areas shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Spend of NHS support funding on priorities 
			  £ million 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Cancer 103.08 112.89 122.53 137.35 129.50 
			 Coronary heart disease 55.31 53.01 59.03 58.56 58.15 
			 Children's services 51.40 52.84 54.60 57.26 57.06 
			 Diabetes 17.50 18.17 19.29 21.37 21.75 
			 Emergency care 9.56 9.69 11.07 15.89 11.21 
			 Mental health 45.53 48.37 51.66 52.54 54.44 
			 Older people 34.01 39.39 39.89 42.93 38.46 
			 Reducing inequalities 18.12 18.44 19.31 17.42 16.95 
			 Waiting times 3.68 3.63 3.85 4.63 2.87 
			 Improving the patient experience 79.50 46.26 49.74 49.52 51.44 
			 Building capacity 17.83 18.98 20.40 19.56 17.86 
			 Renal disease 11.10 10.58 10.84 10.71 13.22 
			 Respiratory disease 23.53 29.13 28.72 30.57 33.26 
			 Chronic neurological disease n/a 29.84 26.98 26.01 28.32 
			 Genetics n/a 25.09 30.91 32.79 32.43 
			 Degenerative neurological disorders n/a n/a 18.44 16.47 19.41 
			 Medicines for children n/a n/a 15.69 17.42 21.53 
			 Public health n/a n/a 15.14 14.34 13.68 
			 Stroke n/a n/a 9.01 9.64 9.87 
			 Primary Care 22.01 18.45 20.46 22.24 23.60 
			 n/a = Not available 
		
	
	Where a research project relates to two or more priority areas, the expenditure on it is included under each relevant heading.
	Comparable information in respect of the Department's centrally managed research programmes is not available.
	Medical Research Council (MRC) expenditure on medical research since 2002-03 and its distribution is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Area  2002-03  2003-04 
			 Genetics, Molecular Structure and Dynamics 83.4 78.8 
			 Cell Biology, Development and Growth 72.2 72.8 
			 Medical Physiology and Disease Processes 75.3 78.3 
			 Immunology and Infection 62.3 75.8 
			 Neurosciences and Mental Health 68.8 68.8 
			 People and Population Studies: Health Services and Health of the Public 51.9 54.5 
			 Total 413.9 428.9 
		
	
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Area  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Health Services and Public Health Research Board 58.2 56.6 89.8 
			 Infections and Immunity Board 71.7 82.3 85.8 
			 Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board 174.7 195.6 192.1 
			 Neurosciences and Mental Health Board 76.1 108.1 108.7 
			 Physiological Systems and Clinical Sciences Board 67.2 72.0 97.3 
			 Total 447.8 514.6 573.7 
		
	
	The scientific areas reported against by the MRC were changed from 1 April 2004 to correspond to the five research boards in operation from that date.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what ratio of prescriptions for Part IX items of the Drug Tariff were endorsed with supply of an item other than that originally prescribed in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not available.

NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs); what plans he has to extend the service provided by ISTCs; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The independent sector has helped improve the health services for patients, helping speed up treatments and introduce innovation to the NHS.
	Private sector companies and voluntary sector providers are providing national health service patients with access to high quality and faster treatment—as well as offering patients unprecedented choice about when and where they are treated.
	Through the independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) programme more than 1.34 million elective procedures, renal dialysis sessions, diagnostic assessments and episodes of primary care for NHS patients have been delivered through contracts which include over 100 fixed and mobile facilities provided by the independent sector.
	Surveys of patients provide an indication of the effectiveness of ISTCs. The patient satisfaction rate for Wave 1 is 96.2 per cent. and for Phase 2 is 99.3 per cent.
	The Government have no plans to centrally procure contracts for additional ISTCs beyond those already announced. Independent sector provision will in the future be procured locally rather than centrally.

NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many independent sector treatment centres are planned for  (a) England and  (b) Northamptonshire; and where each will be located.

Ben Bradshaw: In terms of existing independent sector treatment centres (ISTC) provision throughout England, there are currently 25 fixed site Wave 1 ISTCs, eight Phase 2 ISTC schemes, a mobile magnetic resonance imaging service, a mobile cataract service and six commuter walk-in centres. There are also two Phase 2 schemes in mobilisation (Greater Manchester national health service clinical assessment and treatment service, and Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.)
	Wave 1 and Phase 2 of the ISTC programme are now almost concluded, with no further ISTC schemes being centrally planned.
	Independent sector provision will in future be procured locally rather than centrally. The three remaining Phase 2 schemes (London North, Hertfordshire and Essex) will be taken forward by the national health service to complete the review and negotiations with providers. The Department and HM Treasury are expected to conclude decisions by the end of November 2008.

NHS: Drugs

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of exchange differences on the availability and dispensing of parallel import medicines.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has made no assessment of the effect of exchange differences on the availability of parallel imported medicines.

NHS: Drugs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in respect of anti-TNFs on clinical practice.

Dawn Primarolo: We have made no such assessment. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently undertaking an appraisal of the clinical and cost effectiveness of the sequential use of anti-TNF drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. NICE has not yet issued final guidance.

NHS: Reorganisation

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department will carry out the consultation on the proposed new process for developing and reviewing indicators in the Quality and Outcomes Framework, as stated in his Department's NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care newsletter of September 2008.

Phil Hope: The consultation on the proposed new process for developing and reviewing indicators in the Quality and Outcomes Framework began on 30 October 2008.

NHS: Staff

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the financial effect on primary care trusts of the proposed change in value added tax rules which will apply when employing temporary staff from agencies.

Ben Bradshaw: Estimates are being made of the financial effect for all national health service organisations. The preliminary cost estimate to the NHS is £30 million.

Obesity

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the prevalence of obesity was in each of the last five years; and what forecast he has made of trends in the rate in each of the next 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the proportion of adults aged 16 and over and the proportion of children aged two to 15 in England that are obese is collected in the Health Survey for England.
	This information can be found in Health Survey for England 2006: Latest Trends, Table 4 of the adults' trend tables shows prevalence of obesity among adults in every year from 1993 and Table 4 of the children's trend tables shows prevalence of obesity among children in each year since 1995. The Health Survey for England 2006 was published on 31 January 2008. This publication is available in the Library.
	Information on trends in the rate of obesity in the next 10 years is contained in the report "Tackling Obesities: Future Choices—Modelling Future Trends in Obesity and their Impact on Health". A copy of this publication can be downloaded at:
	http://www.foresight.gov.uk/OurWork/ActiveProjects/Obesity/Obesity.asp.
	This publication has already been placed in the Library.

Obesity

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the prevalence of obesity in the UK.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are committed to reversing the rising trend in obesity in the population. In January 2008, we published our strategy Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: a Cross Government Strategy for England. This strategy has five key themes: children, healthy growth and weight; promoting healthier food choices; building physical activity into our lives; creating incentives for better health; and personalised advice and support for all.
	We have started to make good progress in the implementation of our strategy. On 23 July we published a newsletter Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: six months on. A copy is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_086464
	A copy of the strategy and newsletter has already been placed in the Library.

Pathology

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish Lord Carter's review of pathology.

Dawn Primarolo: The final report of the Independent Review of NHS Pathology Services in England, chaired by Lord Carter of Coles, is scheduled for publication in December 2008.

Pharmacy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the Pharmacy White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 November 2008,  Official Report, column 365W.

Smoking

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on television promotion of  (a) smoking bans,  (b) stop-smoking programmes and  (c) other tobacco-related programmes in the last year.

Dawn Primarolo: For the period March 2007 to March 2008, the Department spent the following on television-based promotion of smoking related issues:
	£1,830,500 was spent on awareness raising ahead of the implementation of smokefree legislation;
	£4,540,775 was spent on stop smoking programmes, including promotion of the national health service stop smoking services; and
	There was no television promotion for any other tobacco-related programmes.

Tuberculosis: Vaccination

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of administering the BCG vaccine to children in education but not resident in high tuberculosis incidence areas; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: No cost assessment of this nature has been conducted.
	In 2005, following a review of surveillance data of tuberculosis (TB), the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advised that a targeted BCG vaccination programme was the most effective vaccination strategy for the United Kingdom. The programme aims to achieve high vaccination coverage in particular among ethnic groups and in parts of the country where TB rates are highest.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of pensioner housing benefit recipients in each region who will be affected by the change in the limit on backdating claims for council tax benefit from 12 months to three months; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of pensioner council tax benefit recipients in each region who will be affected by the change in the limit on backdating claims for council tax benefit from 12 months to three months; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of working age council tax benefit recipients in each region who will be affected by the change in the time limit on backdating claims for council tax benefit from 12 months to six months; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of working age housing benefit recipients in each region who will be affected by the change in the time limit on backdating claims for housing benefit from 12 months to six months; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The information is not available.

Children: Maintenance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of a repayment schedule agreed with the Child Support Agency is.

Kitty Ussher: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of a repayment schedule agreed with the Child Support Agency is.
	Robust information on the length of arrears repayment schedules is not held centrally and to obtain it would involve additional examination of all relevant cases. The information required to answer this question cannot therefore be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Child maintenance arrears should be paid immediately. Where this is not possible the Agency may enter an arrears agreement with the non-resident parent. The Agency aims to clear any child maintenance debt within two years and will therefore seek to negotiate the collection of arrears with this goal in mind.
	No arrears agreement with the Agency should be regarded as settled unless it continues to ensure that child maintenance arrears are paid as quickly as possible having considered all the circumstances of the case. The Agency is therefore currently reviewing all of its cases, including those which may have an agreement in place to repay child maintenance debt over a longer period. This is to ensure that all agreements continue to be appropriate and that the interests of the child in respect of whom the arrears are due are fully taken into account.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Community Care: Finance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 478, on social care services, whether the £400 million referred to includes any part of the £1.1 billion of programme costs for Pathways to Work over the next five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The £400 million extra for paying the employment and support allowance rates does not include the £1.1 billion being made available for Pathways to Work. The two figures are entirely separate.

Council Tax Benefits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing time was for council tax benefit applications in each quarter of each of the last five years  (a) in total and  (b) in each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Council Tax Benefits

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 29 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2365W, on council tax benefit, what estimate he has made of the number of adults in benefit units in Great Britain who are in receipt of 100 per cent. council tax benefit.

Kitty Ussher: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Recipients of 100 per cent. council tax benefit in Great Britain 
			   Number 
			 All benefit units 3,826,000 
			  Of which:  
			 are single 3,077,000 
			 are couples 748,000 
			  Notes: 1. The figures are based on a one per cent sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand. 3. Totals may not sum due to rounding 4. Council tax benefit figures exclude any single adult rebate cases.  Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2004

Council Tax Benefits: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people he estimates were  (a) eligible for and  (b) in receipt of council tax benefit in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each year since 1997.

Kitty Ussher: The latest estimates of the number of entitled non-recipients of means-tested benefit in Great Britain are published in the report 'Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2006-07'. These include council tax benefit, income support, pension credit, housing benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income-based). Copies are available in the Library.
	Estimates of eligibility are not available below the level of Great Britain.
	Information on recipients of council tax benefit at constituency level is not available.
	The available information for Hertfordshire is in the table.
	
		
			  Number of recipients of council tax benefit in Hertfordshire as at May each year 
			   Number 
			 1997 66,170 
			 1998 63,480 
			 1999 60,320 
			 2000 57,280 
			 2001 54,370 
			 2002 54,270 
			 2003 55,710 
			 2004 58,130 
			 2005 60,360 
			 2006 62,440 
			 2007 62,990 
			  Notes: 1. Data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Council tax benefit totals exclude any second adult rebate cases.  Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent caseload stock-count taken in May 1997 to May 2007

Incapacity Benefit: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the working-age population in West Chelmsford constituency received incapacity benefit in  (a) June 2001,  (b) May 2005 and  (c) the latest period for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: I will let the hon. Member have such information as is available as soon as possible.
	 Substantive answer from Jonathan Shaw to Simon Burns:
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants as a percentage of the working age population in West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency 
			   Percentage 
			 February 2008 3.7 
			 May 2005 3.6 
			 May 2001 3.3 
			  Notes: 1. Percentages are shown to one decimal place. 2. Percentages have been calculated based on the ONS mid year population estimates at constituency level which are experimental data and therefore not part of the National Statistics. These experimental statistics are still under evaluation by ONS and should be interpreted with caution. 3. Data is quarterly, rather than monthly. The closest quarter to June 2001 ends at May 2001. 4. Figures include incapacity benefit credits only and severe disablement allowance cases. 5. Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance caseload figures for parliamentary constituencies are published on the internet at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html The population estimates are published at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15095  Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent WPLS

Income Support: Mortgages

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants were in receipt of mortgage interest payment as part of income support in each Government Office Region in each of the last 10 years.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 3 November 2008
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of income support claimants with mortgage interest payments, in Great Britain, by region 
			   As at February each year 
			   1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Great Britain 270,500 252,400 243,600 231,000 218,700 115,600 105,400 98,900 91,900 83,300 
			 North East 12,500 12,300 11,200 11,300 10,900 5,600 5,200 5,000 4,600 4,100 
			 North West 42,100 38,900 37,800 35,000 33,000 17,500 16,200 15,500 14,400 12,700 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 23,400 21,900 22,000 20,500 18,700 11,100 10,400 9,800 8,700 8,100 
			 East Midlands 17,900 17,500 16,000 15,000 14,000 7,300 6,500 6,400 6,100 6,000 
			 West Midlands 26,400 24,700 24,800 23,800 23,100 12,500 12,100 11,000 10,600 9,500 
			 East of England 23,200 21,000 20,200 18,700 17,300 9,400 8,600 8,200 7,300 6,900 
			 London 36,600 33,800 31,700 29,900 27,900 14,900 13,100 12,400 11,600 10,400 
			 South East 31,200 28,000 25,800 24,400 22,500 11,600 10,400 9,100 8,600 8,200 
			 South West 21,200 19,900 18,900 17,400 15,800 7,900 6,900 6,400 6,100 5,500 
			 Wales 19,300 17,700 17,300 16,300 15,900 9,000 8,000 7,400 6,900 5,800 
			 Scotland 16,800 16,700 18,000 18,600 19,400 8,500 8,100 7,800 7,100 6,200 
			  Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Figures have been produced from a 5 per cent. sample and uprated in line with 100 per cent. WPLS totals. 4. Figures for February 2004 onwards are affected by claimants aged 60 or over who transferred to pension credit in October 2003.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample.

Income Support: Mortgages

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to implement forthwith the change to eligibility for income support for mortgage interest payments planned for April 2009.

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what administrative steps he plans to take  (a) in reducing the present period for claims for income support for mortgage interest to 13 weeks by April 2009 and  (b) in widening access to income support for mortgage interest arrangements to joint income households.

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will reduce the qualification period for income support for mortgage interest to 13 weeks with immediate effect;
	(2)  if he will amend the system of income support for mortgage interest to provide support to two-income households when one borrower loses their source of income.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 3 November 2008
	We share the concerns about the need for early introduction of the changes to help with mortgage costs, and therefore we have brought forward the date of introduction. We now plan to introduce the changes to Support for Mortgage Interest in January, including the reduction of the waiting period to 13 weeks. This is the earliest practicable date when we can do so.
	Support for Mortgage Interest is available to those homeowners who qualify for one of the income-related benefits, income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or income-related employment and support allowance. It is an integral component of those benefits. Couples are treated as a single unit in these benefits and if one member of a couple is in remunerative work of 16 hours or more, or has income which exceeds their entitlement, then they cannot receive the benefit. Only those couples who are not in remunerative work and who meet the other qualifying conditions of the benefit can receive Support for Mortgage Interest. This is intended to ensure that resources are directed to where they are most needed.
	Where two or more people share a household and a mortgage, but are not a couple, they can individually receive Support for Mortgage Interest for their share of the mortgage interest payments, subject to their meeting the other qualifying conditions of the benefit.

Older Workers

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many new jobs were filled by individuals aged 65 years or older in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many new jobs were filled by workers aged over  (a) 55,  (b) 60,  (c) 65 and  (d) 70 years in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated October 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the number of new jobs that have been filled by individuals aged 65 years or older in each year since 1997, and your Parliamentary Question asking how many new jobs have been filled by workers aged over (a) 55 (b) 60 (c) 65 and (d) 70 years in each year since 1997. (231827 and 231838).
	Statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly from ONS surveys, however the Labour Force Survey (LFS) does enable comparisons of net changes in employment to be made from year to year. Your questions have therefore been answered using the estimated numbers of people employed, from the LFS. Estimates of jobs available from other ONS sources do not provide the detailed age breakdowns you have requested.
	The Office for National Statistics compiles its most timely employment statistics from the LFS following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1 attached provides estimates of employment in each year since 1997 for people aged (a) 55-59 (b) 60-64 (c) 65-69 and (d) 70 and over, resident in the UK, along with the net year on year changes for these age bands. Figures are for the April to June quarter in each year.
	The estimates in the table are derived from the LFS microdata weighted to estimates published in 2007. They are not entirely consistent with figures published in the monthly Labour Market Statistics First Release which are weighted using more up to date population estimates. As with any survey, results are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in Table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: Numbers of people employed and year on year change in employment, by five year age band from 1997 to 2008—April to June quarter each year—United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousand 
			   Aged 55-59 years  Net change  Aged 60-64 years  Net change  Aged 65 -69 years  Net change  Aged 70  and over  Net change  Total  Net change 
			 1997 1,787 — 1,025 — 276 — 163 — 3,251 — 
			 1998 1,862 75 970 -55 301 25 147 -16 3,280 29 
			 1999 1,952 91 1,020 49 304 3 159 12 3,435 155 
			 2000 2,048 96 1,054 34 291 -13 167 9 3,560 126 
			 2001 2,167 119 1,078 24 284 -8 152 -15 3,680 119 
			 2002 2,373 207 1,088 11 314 31 165 13 3,941 261 
			 2003 2,557 184 1,184 95 347 33 171 6 4,259 318 
			 2004 2,601 44 1,247 63 366 18 183 13 4,398 138 
			 2005 2,663 62 1,288 41 388 22 192 9 4,531 134 
			 2006 2,683 20 1,384 96 423 35 199 6 4,688 157 
			 2007 2,581 -103 1,540 157 408 -14 221 23 4,751 62 
			 2008(1) *2,550 -31 *1,656 116 *462 54 **234 12 *4,902 151 
			 (1) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates, described as follows:  Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220.  Key Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness * 0 < = CV< 5 Estimates are considered precise ** 5 < = CV < 10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 < = CV < 20 Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes  Source: Labour Force Survey

Pension Credit

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much his Department distributed in pension credit to pensioners over the age of  (a) 65,  (b) 75 and  (c) 80 years in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how much his Department distributed in the form of pension credit in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Table 1: Pension credit expenditure in cash terms 
			  £ million 
			   All ages  Age 65 or over  Age 75 or over  Age 80 or over 
			 2003-04 2,413 1,824 1,122 783 
			 2004-05 5,971 4,590 2,829 1,978 
			 2005-06 6,426 4,965 3,056 2,140 
			 2006-07 6,869 5,325 3,272 2,292 
			 2007-08 7,332 5,656 3,450 2,413 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Pension credit expenditure in 2008-09 prices 
			  £ million 
			   All ages  Age 65 or over  Age 75 or over  Age 80 or over 
			 2003-04 2,770 2,093 1,288 899 
			 2004-05 6,670 5,127 3,160 2,209 
			 2005-06 7,030 5,432 3,343 2,341 
			 2006-07 7,305 5,663 3,479 2,437 
			 2007-08 7,552 5,826 3,553 2,485 
			  Notes: 1. Pension credit was introduced on 3 October 2003, so expenditure figures for 2003-04 are part year figures. 2. Expenditure has been converted from cash terms to 2008-09 prices using GDP Deflators which were published alongside the 2008 Budget report.  Source: Budget 2008 Benefit Expenditure Tables and DWP Accounting Systems.

Pension Credit

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to work with voluntary organisations such as Age Concern and Help the Aged to promote take-up of pension credit.

Rosie Winterton: The Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS) work at both a local and national level with Age Concern and Help the Aged to promote take-up of pension credit.
	Age Concern and Help the Aged have been our strategic partners since 2003 as members of the Partnership against Poverty Forum. At a local level, they are important partners within the Joint Working Partnerships we have developed with all 203 primary-tier local authorities. These partnerships provide a single point of access to social care and benefit entitlement to some of the most vulnerable pensioners.
	PDCS are also currently developing a joint pension credit take-up campaign with both voluntary organisations.

Pension Credit: Bolton

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in  (a) Bolton North East constituency and  (b) Bolton have received pension credit since its introduction.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  The number of household recipients and individual beneficiaries of pension credit in Bolton, North-East and Bolton, 2003-08 
			   Bolton, North-East Constituency  Bolton 
			   Household Recipients  Individual Beneficiaries  Household Recipients  Individual Beneficiaries 
			 November 2003 4,250 5,100 11,360 13,700 
			 February 2004 4,530 5,470 12,200 14,810 
			 February 2005 5,120 6,220 13,910 16,990 
			 February 2006 5,150 6,280 14,140 17,330 
			 February 2007 5,190 6,360 14,300 17,610 
			 February 2008 5,200 6,370 14,340 17,670 
			  Notes: 1. This information is published at www.nomisweb.co.uk 2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf on a household. 4. Individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners.  Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data

Social Security Benefits

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what his Department's latest estimate is of take-up rates for  (a) carer's allowance,  (b) pension credit,  (c) housing benefit and  (d) council tax benefit;
	(2)  how many pensioners his Department estimates are eligible for pension credit, broken down by constituency.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 6 November 2008
	The latest estimates of take-up of means-tested benefits in Great Britain, covering income support, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income-based) are published in the report "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2006-07". Take-up rates are not available for carer's allowance.
	Estimates of eligibility are not available below the level of Great Britain.

State Retirement Pensions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's policy is on the payment of backdated interest for late payment of deferred state pensions; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: We aim to make payments as quickly as possible and it is our policy that compensation in the form of interest is considered when any unreasonable delay, beyond that for normal processing of the claim, has occurred. Every case is considered on its own merits. The interest rate is calculated for any period of unnecessary delay using an interest rate supplied by the Bank of England.

Winter Fuel Payments: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of households in Vale of York constituency which will receive the  (a) £250 and  (b) £400 winter fuel payment in 2008-09;
	(2)  how much he expects to pay to pensioner householders in the Vale of York in winter fuel payments in 2008-09.

Rosie Winterton: Figures for winter 2007-08 are not yet available.
	In winter 2006-07 we made:
	12,140 winter fuel payments to households in the Vale of York constituency with a member aged 60-79; and
	3,720 winter fuel payments to households in the Vale of York constituency with a member aged 80 or over.
	We expect in 2008-09 similar numbers to receive the £250 and £400 respectively.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	3. Please note that a small number of these households receive amounts higher than the usual rate for their age group, where the household includes more than two individuals each entitled to payments at half of the usual household rate.
	 Source:
	Information directorate 100 per cent. data.
	Expenditure in 2006-07 on winter fuel payments in the Vale of York was £3.7 million. Forecasts of benefit expenditure are not produced at parliamentary constituency level.
	 Notes:
	1. Expenditure figures have been rounded to the nearest £100,000.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	3. Please note that a small number of these households receive amounts higher than the usual rate for their age group, where the household includes more than two individuals each entitled to payments at half of the usual household rate.
	 Source:
	Information directorate 100 per cent. data.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what recent steps the Government have taken to assist the growth of creative industries;
	(2)  what steps the Government plan to take to encourage the growth of creative industries.

Barbara Follett: In February the Government published "Creative Britain—New Talents for the New Economy". This document sets out 26 commitments intended to move the creative industries from the margins to the mainstream of the economy. The commitments, which we hope to implement over the next three years, span the life cycle of the UK's creative economy, setting out measures which will help children and young people to foster their creativity and turn their talent into jobs as well as helping creative businesses to prosper and then thrive. £70.5 million of Government money is committed to the strategy.
	The Find Your Talent programme has been launched, with 10 pathfinders providing five hours of culture per week for children and young people. The Technology Strategy Board has already offered over £7 million to a range of companies from across the creative industries sector to inspire new collaborative research and development.
	We want to encourage employers to create up to 5,000 apprenticeship places a year in the creative industries by 2013. We have also announced that world leaders from the creative and financial industries will convene in the UK next year for the Creativity and Business International Network (c&binet) to help ensure that our creative industries continue to grow and thrive.

Arts: Manchester

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department has given Manchester International Arts in the last 24 months.

Barbara Follett: Information from Arts Council England is that Manchester International Arts received a total of £134,100 as a Regularly Funded Organisation, and £226,250 through the Grants for the Arts programme over the past two financial years (2006-07 and 2007-08).

Broadband

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of how many households do not have access to broadband in  (a) North Wiltshire,  (b) Wiltshire,  (c) Swindon and  (d) England.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	We are committed however to looking seriously at the issue of broadband availability and will consider this in more detail over the coming months, in particular through the Digital Britain Report (DBR). We launched the DBR on 17 October, with a programme of work leading to a final report in spring 2009. The DBR will bring forward proposals for both Government and industry, to support the development of the digital communications and broadcasting sectors, and has at its core an ambition to accelerate the rate of growth, and cement the UK's position as a world leader in the knowledge and learning economy. One strand of this work will look at options for maximising broadband participation and levels of service.

Churches Conservation Trust: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communications officers are employed by the Churches Conservation Trust.

Andy Burnham: The Churches Conservation Trust have informed us that they currently employ one full time equivalent (FTE) press officer.

Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communications officers are employed by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.

Barbara Follett: The requested information has been provided by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) who have informed us that they currently employ 5.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) press and communications officers.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communications officers are employed by  (a) the Victoria and Albert Museum,  (b) National Museums Liverpool,  (c) the National Maritime Museum,  (d) the Natural History Museum and  (e) the National Portrait Gallery.

Barbara Follett: The following information has been supplied by the organisations requested:
	 The Victoria and Albert Museum
	The Victoria and Albert Museum currently employs 5.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff who work directly in the press office or whose role would primarily consist of core communications expertise.
	 The National Museums Liverpool
	The National Museums Liverpool currently employ seven FTE staff working on press, general communication and associated matters.
	 The National Maritime Museum
	The National Maritime Museum currently employs one FTE press and public relations officer.
	 The Natural History Museum
	The Natural History Museum currently employs five FTE press and communications staff, one of whom is funded commercially.
	 The National Portrait Gallery
	The National Portrait Gallery currently employs 2.65 FTE press and media staff.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communications officers are employed by his Department.

Barbara Follett: There are 10 press officers and six communications officers employed by the DCMS.
	The six communications officers were previously designated as 'marketing officers' (and listed as such in the White Book).

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many civil servants working in his Department and its agencies have pensions with a cash equivalent transfer value of over £1 million.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is not appropriate to disclose pension information other than for board members whose details are shown in the remuneration report in annual Resource Accounts. A copy of DCMS's resource accounts for the financial year 2007-08 can be found in the Library or accessed on the Department's website using the following link
	<http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/5398.aspx>

English Heritage

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people participated in English Heritage outreach projects in each year since 2000.

Barbara Follett: English Heritage engages under-represented groups through its sites and in the community through dedicated outreach projects, reaching over 890,000 people from priority groups in 2007-08. It also supports a wide range of other events and initiatives to attract new users, including "National Archaeology Week" through the Council for British Archaeology which attracts between 80,000 and 100,000 members of the public to hundreds of locally arranged events; and Heritage Open Days through the Civic Trust which attracts up to 1 million visitors to events all around the country.
	
		
			   Number of outreach projects  Number of people engaged through outreach projects  Under-represented groups visiting EH properties  Total 
			 2005-06 78 46,751 773,868 820,619 
			 2006-07 85 49,495 797,078 846,573 
			 2007-08 88 33,477 857,260 890,737 
			  Note: The figures for visitors to properties are calculated based on annual survey data. The outreach figures are actual participants. 
		
	
	Figures for earlier years are not available as outreach figures were not gathered centrally until 2004-05 and the survey of site visitors did not identify under-represented groups until 2005-06.

Football Licensing Authority: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communications officers are employed by the Football Licensing Authority.

Andy Burnham: The Football Licensing Authority has informed us that it does not employ any press officers or core communications staff.

Government Art Collection

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on acquiring new works for the Government Art Collection in each of the last 10 years.

Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 7 July 2008, Official Report, column 1209W by my right hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Margaret Hodge).

Heritage Lottery Fund: Employment Agencies

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much  (a) the Heritage Lottery Fund and  (b) English Heritage spent on recruitment consultants in each of the last five years; and which companies provided these services.

Barbara Follett: The Heritage Lottery Fund has informed us that it is unable to provide the requested information without incurring disproportionate costs.
	English Heritage has provided the information in the following table for spend on recruitment consultants.
	
		
			  Financial year  Cost of recruitment agencies (£) 
			 2003-04 128,526 
			 2004-05 151,486 
			 2005-06 170,202 
			 2006-07 120,870 
			 2007-08 177,360 
			 Total 748,444 
		
	
	The recruitment companies used were: Accountancy Additions Ltd., Accountancy Divisions Ltd., Adecco UK Ltd., Alexander Hughes UK Ltd., Alexander Lloyd Ltd., Allen and York Ltd., Alpha Personnel, Andersen Leigh Associates PLC, Aptus Personnel Ltd., Arts and Business, Beaver Employment Ltd., Brook St. Bureau, Capita Resourcing Ltd., Castle Employment Agency Ltd., Charity People Ltd., Charterhouse Recruitment Ltd., Covent Garden Bureau, Dovetail Human Resource Services, English Country Gardeners, ESP Recruitment, Gallery Resources Ltd., Hamlin Knight, Hays Accountancy Personnel, Hays Montrose, Hewitson Walker, HR Personnel Partnership, Hudson Global Resources Ltd., Hudson York Farrell, Huxley Associates Ltd., Inspired Selection Ltd., Judd Farris Ltd., Katy Carter, Michael Page International, MGM International Ltd., Office Angels, Office Team, Ortus HR, Oryx Executive Search Ltd., Outsource UK Ltd., Principle Partnership (UK) Ltd., Public Finance Management Ltd., Quest Search and Selection Ltd., RBH Recruitment Ltd., Reed Employment Plc, Reed Personnel Services Plc, Richmond Associates UK Ltd., Ritz Recruitment Ltd., Robert Half Finance and Accounting, Robert Walters Ltd., Rowan Charles Ltd., Senitor Associates Ltd., Strong Recruitment, Talisman, Talisman Marketing Solutions Ltd., The Job Partnership, TPP Newman Ltd., Travail Employment Group, Vanley Burke, VMA Search and Selection Ltd., Witton Recruitment, WP Recruitment Ltd.

Historic Royal Palaces: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communications officers are employed by the Historic Royal Palaces.

Andy Burnham: Historic Royal Palaces have informed us that they currently employ four full-time equivalent (FTE) in-house press officers.

Horserace Totalisator Board: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Tote spent on press and communications officers in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Tote have informed us that they do not employ any press and communications officers.

Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communication officers are employed by  (a) the National Lottery Commission and  (b) the Gambling Commission.

Barbara Follett: The information has been supplied by the organisations requested as follows:
	 The National Lottery Commission :
	The National Lottery Commission currently employs three full time equivalent (FTE) staff within their communications team.
	 The Gambling Commission:
	The Gambling Commission currently employs six FTE staff within their communications team.

Museums and Galleries

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people visited the national museums in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: There were a record 40 million visits to national museums in 2007-08. This represents an increase of 72 per cent. since the year before free admission was introduced.

Powers of Entry

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) primary and  (b) secondary legislation sponsored by his Department has (i) amended and (ii) enhanced existing powers of entry since May 1997.

Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to my earlier answer given to the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) on 3 November 2008,  Official Report, column 148W.

Public Libraries

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support his Department provides to libraries to increase their popularity as places to read; what assistance is given to enable libraries to work with the private sector towards this goal; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: In 2003 DCMS published Framework for the Future, the Government's 10-year public library strategy for England. This provided a broad vision to enable libraries to modernise through promoting reading and learning; enabling access to digital skills and services; and encouraging community cohesion and civic values, as well as looking for the scope for capacity building. Framework for the Future has been underpinned by work funded through the Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), including the training programme Leading Modern Public Libraries, and library service peer reviews.
	In the context of Framework, on 9 October 2008 the Secretary of State announced that the DCMS would undertake a Library Service Modernisation Review to define the Government's vision for a modern, world-class public library service and set out some of the necessary steps to achieve this vision. This review, which is expected to report in the spring of 2009, aims to support local authorities in delivering modernised, responsive and appealing library services for their communities, and to improve performance and increase usage. The private sector—particularly publishers and booksellers—are playing an important part in this project, and library services are increasingly working with private sector partners to improve their services.
	The BIG Lottery Fund £80 million Community Libraries Programme is an investment across England to improve community learning opportunities through libraries. Part of this is offering the types of opportunities that are essential to the promotion of reading activities. These include learning opportunities and activities to attract new library users such as reading groups, writing groups, language classes and family learning activities.
	Libraries have played a central role in the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) funded National Year of Reading, for which DCMS provided valuable policy support. This has promoted a broad range of themed events and activities, and as part of a membership drive signing up over one million new library members since April 2008.
	There are also a significant number of programmes funded by Departments, sponsored organisations and third sector partners which promote the increased use of public libraries. DCMS (through the MLA) and other Government Departments have provided funding for the Summer Reading Challenge, Book Ahead, Fulfilling their Potential, Vital Link and Families Love Libraries. In addition DCMS has given policy support to programmes funded directly by other Departments (namely DCSF) including Bookstart, Boys into Books and Booked Up.

Regeneration: Coastal Areas

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the Government's initiative to assist regeneration in seaside towns, how much has been allocated to each town since the inception of the initiative.

Barbara Follett: The grants allocated to local authorities in Wave One of the Government's Sea Change initiative to assist regeneration in seaside resorts are set out in the table:
	
		
			  Wave one large grants programme 
			  £ 
			  Local Authority  Seaside Town/Resort  Grant Awarded 
			 Blackpool Council Blackpool 4,000,000 
			 Kent County Council Dover 3,850,000 
			 Torbay Council Torbay 2,247,532 
			
			  Wave One Open Application Programme   
			 Berwick-upon-Tweed Berwick 1,000,000 
			 Rother District Council Bexhill-on-Sea 1,000,000 
			 Arun District Council Littlehampton 480,800 
			 Devon County Council Teignmouth 376,676 
			 Bournemouth District Council Boscombe 455,000 
			 North Somerset Council Weston-Super-Mare 951,447 
			 Torridge District Council Westward Ho! 100,000(1) 
			 North Tyneside Council North Tyneside 29,525(2) 
			 Wyre Borough Council Fleetwood 30,000(2) 
			 Thanet District Council Margate 30,000(2) 
			 North Devon Council Ilfracombe 30,000(2) 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire Council Withernsea 30,000(2) 
			 (1) Development grant (2) Feasibility grant

Regional Cultural Consortiums: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communications officers are employed by regional cultural consortiums.

Barbara Follett: Throughout the Regional Cultural Consortiums, staff will occasionally work on communications at all levels, but there are no members of staff employed in this capacity on a full time basis. There is one communications officer employed in a part time role, and three other consortiums employ external consultants to deal with press and communications issues as needed.

Regional Cultural Consortiums: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much each regional cultural consortium spent on employing press and communications officers in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: The figures in the table reflect how much each regional cultural consortium has spent on employing press and communications officers, including freelance and consultancy staff, in each of the last four years. There are no figures available for 2004-05.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Regional cultural consortium  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09( 1) 
			 Culture Northwest 12,409 21,205 32,154 11,240 
			 Culture South East 2,937 6,000 3,000 0 
			 Culture East Midlands 16,700 0 14,300 3,500 
			 Culture West Midlands 0 0 16,100 18,200 
			 Living East 0 0 0 0 
			 Yorkshire Culture 0 0 0 0 
			 Culture South West 0 0 0 0 
			 Culture North East 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Expenditure to date.

Royal Parks Agency: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communications officers are employed by the Royal Parks Agency.

Barbara Follett: The Royal Parks inform us that they employ 1.25 full time equivalent press/communications officers.

Rural Areas

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in respect of which of his Department's public service agreements rural proofing of departmental policies is stipulated.

Barbara Follett: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport leads on one cross-Government Public Service Agreement—PSA 22 (Olympics and PE and School Sport). There is no requirement as such for PSAs to be rural proofed, rather the policies and programmes beneath them should be. All new policies, programmes and projects are subject to comprehensive but proportionate impact assessments, including rural-proofing, where appropriate.

Sports: Essex

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department has provided for  (a) amateur sports clubs and  (b) sport in schools in the West Chelmsford constituency since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department does not provide any direct funding of grassroots sport; funding is channelled through Sport England. Sport England have advised that they do not hold specific information about grants benefiting amateur sports clubs and sport in schools in West Chelmsford and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, Sport England can identify the specific projects they have supported in West Chelmsford and Chelmsford local authority. The total value of these awards is £6,273,264 (£5,278,144 lottery funding and £995,120 exchequer funding).
	Of this total, some awards were made specifically to amateur sports clubs and sport in schools. The value of these awards is £199,913—£81,694 to amateur sports clubs and £118,219 to schools.
	While only a limited number of awards have been identified as being made specifically to amateur sports clubs or schools sports projects, amateur sports clubs and school sport projects would have benefited significantly from other grants within the overall figures provided above.

Swimming: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representations his Department has received from local authorities on the budgetary implications of free swimming schemes for  (a) over 60 year olds and  (b) under 16 year olds; and if he will place in the Library copies of such representations.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 13 October 2008
	We have received to date approximately 60 such representations. Subject to any issues of confidentiality, we will consider making responses available once our deliberations with authorities are complete.

Theatres Trust: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communications officers are employed by the Theatres Trust.

Barbara Follett: The information requested has been supplied by The Theatres Trust. They inform us that no posts carry the job title "press" or "communications". However, approximately 0.3 of the full-time equivalent of one post is spent on marketing, press and communications.

Tote: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communications officers are employed by the Tote.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Tote have informed us that they do not employ any press and communications officers.

UK Film Council: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press and communication officers are employed by the UK Film Council.

Barbara Follett: The UK Film Council have informed us that they currently employ two full time equivalent (FTE) press officers and one FTE communications assistant.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions: International Cooperation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Canadian government on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has only recently been set up and the Secretary for Energy and Climate Change has not yet had the chance to engage with the Canadian government on the issue of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
	My hon. and learned Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) has recently met with the Albertan Energy and Environment Ministers.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the relative cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Stern review on the economics of climate change clearly demonstrated that the benefits of strong and early action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions far outweigh the economic costs of not acting. The Government's strategy is to take action as cost-effectively as possible, taking account of the need to secure emissions reductions within the UK, as well as to support action internationally. Impact assessments are published detailing the costs and benefits of individual instruments and policies to deliver emissions reductions.
	In considering how we will meet our carbon budgets, which will be required under the Climate Change Bill, we will compare the cost-effectiveness of further action across all sectors of the UK economy. A report on how the Government will meet their budgets will be published as soon as is practicable once the budgets are set.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people he estimates are eligible for Warm Front grants; and how many people have received all or part of a grant in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) the South West,  (c) England and  (d) the UK in each year since 2003.

Joan Ruddock: The Warm Front grant provides a package of insulation and heating improvements up to a value of £2,700 (or £4,000 if oil central heating is recommended) throughout England. Devolved administrations have separate schemes.
	Based on figures published in BERR's fuel poverty statistics (annexed to the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy annual progress report, 2008) the number of households eligible for assistance through the Warm Front scheme in 2006, the most recent year for which figures are available, was 3.3 million.
	The following table illustrates the number of households assisted each year from 2003 in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) the south-west, and  (c) England by the Warm Front scheme.
	
		
			   Scheme year 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09( 1) 
			 (a) Cornwall 2,867 3,118 2,521 2,641 2,926 1,130 
			 (b) South-west England 13,730 16,978 17,949 19,424 22,034 9,750 
			 (c) England (all) 188,974 208,084 173,184 253,079 268,900 108,888 
			 (1) To 30 September

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to raising the maximum level of Warm Front grant.

Joan Ruddock: A decision on whether to increase the grant maximums has been delayed pending consideration of the National Audit Office (NAO) recommendations on various aspects of the Warm Front scheme. The recommendations will be contained in the NAO's Value for Money audit, due to be published in December. These recommendations will be considered alongside further work to assess the impact of an increase in grant maximums on the overall number of households assisted in this and future years.

Microgeneration

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will set a binding target for microgeneration by 1 November 2008 as required by the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006.

Mike O'Brien: The new Department of Energy and Climate Change has already signalled strong commitment to meeting the following three long-term challenges facing our country:
	Ensuring that we have energy that is affordable, secure, and sustainable.
	Bringing about the transition to a low-carbon Britain.
	And achieving an international agreement on climate change.
	We have already announced our commitment to achieve an 80 per cent. cut in carbon emissions by 2050. We have also tabled amendments to the Energy Bill to introduce feed-in tariffs for small scale low carbon electricity generation up to 3MW and financial support for renewable heat at all scales.
	We want to enable people to move from being passive users to being active generators of energy. While the microgeneration definition in the 2006 Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act, particularly in respect of heat generation, was of a scale more appropriate to households, we also want to see more schools, hospitals, communities and businesses invest in projects that will generate low carbon electricity and heat for their own use. This will allow more citizens to engage actively in the fight against climate change and increase our energy security.
	In the first half of 2009 we will therefore launch our renewable energy strategy, and will bring forward our more detailed proposals on feed-in tariffs for small scale low carbon electricity and incentives for renewable heat. In the light of these decisions, we will be in a position to set out in detail the expected contribution of on-site generation alongside other kinds of electricity and heat generation.
	Therefore at this stage, rather than designating targets within the narrower terms of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006, we intend to bring forward broader proposals in the context of the Renewable Energy Strategy.
	I have placed a written statement of our reasons in the House Library.

Wind Power

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions his Department has had with other Government Departments on the impact of wind turbine developments on the rural environment.

Joan Ruddock: DECC officials have regular conversations with officials dealing with these matters in other Government Departments, and as part of the renewable energy strategy consultation, we have made it clear that we will need to ensure coherence between our renewable energy and environmental goals.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

Sarah Teather: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment the Better Regulation Executive has made of the effect on the food supplements industry of setting maximum permitted levels under the Food Supplements Directive; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Food Standards Agency leads negotiations for the United Kingdom on the setting of maximum and minimum permitted levels and is responsible for developing the associated impact assessment. The Agency continues to gather information for, and develop the impact assessment in consultation with industry. An assessment of the likely impact will be made when the specific levels being proposed by the European Commission are available. These will be set out in Commission proposals, currently expected in January 2009, on which the Agency will consult fully. The Better Regulation Executive continues to work with the Agency to help them ensure the UK negotiating position is developed in line with better regulation principles.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress has been made towards implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The UK laid the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations before Parliament on 12 December 2006 and they came fully into force on 1 July 2007. Amending Regulations were laid before Parliament on 11 December 2007 and came into force on 1 January 2008.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the cost to British companies of implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Ian Pearson: The estimated costs of implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive are set out in the final Regulatory Impact Assessment which was published when the WEEE Regulations were laid before Parliament on 12 December 2006.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations he has received on the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Ian Pearson: There have been no recent representations received on the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department has taken to raise public awareness of opportunities to recycle equipment which falls within the provisions of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Ian Pearson: The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations place a number of obligations on producers and retailers of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) to provide information to consumers as to how best they can dispose of the WEEE to help protect the environment. From 1 July 2007, consumers have been receiving information from retailers, on how they can do this, when they buy a new item of electrical equipment.
	A number of trade and re-use organisations have also been helping to raise awareness among their members. The Department has organised road shows, seminars, mail outs as well as press and publicity in national, regional and trading publications. Further awareness raising will be undertaken across the UK in the coming months.

Iraq

Liam Fox: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many civil servants from his Department served in  (a) Basra,  (b) Baghdad and  (c) other locations in Iraq in each month since January 2005.

Patrick McFadden: The Department does not keep a record of how many staff have served or where they are stationed. BERR staff in the reserve forces are granted special unpaid leave when they are mobilised. They are not obliged to inform the Department of where they are being stationed as this would be a matter for the MOD.

Non-profit Making Associations

John Battle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  how many social enterprises there are in the UK in each sector;
	(2)  how many social enterprises there are in  (a) Yorkshire and Humberside,  (b) Leeds Metropolitan District and  (c) Leeds West constituency, broken down by sector.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The most recent figures suggest there are at least 55,000 social enterprises in the UK. However, social enterprises are not defined by particular legal forms and as a result are not required to register with any one body. Information on the number of social enterprises in the UK in each sector or a particular area is therefore unavailable.

Radioactive Materials: Waste Disposal

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much has been spent to date from the public purse on the nuclear decommissioning and radioactive remediation programme; what proportion of this expenditure has been on  (a) civilian nuclear sites,  (b) military nuclear sites and  (c) mixed civilian and military nuclear sites; and what his estimate is of the total cost of the programme expressed in 2008 prices.

Ian Pearson: Since its inception in April 2005, the NDA (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority) has spent a total of £7.8 billion, of which £4.6 billion has been applied to nuclear decommissioning and radioactive remediation, and which has therefore reduced the nuclear liability. In the same period the NDA's commercial income was £4.0 billion and commercial and administration costs £3.2 billion.
	Decommissioning military nuclear sites is a matter for the Ministry of Defence.

Tobacco

David Taylor: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many meetings  (a) the Secretary of State,  (b) other Ministers and  (c) officials in his Department had on the future of tobacco sales regulation with tobacco (i) retail businesses and (ii) manufacturers between September 2007 and August 2008.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 20 October 2008
	While there were no meetings with BERR Ministers during the period in question, we have identified 12 meetings between BERR officials and either tobacco manufacturers or representatives of small tobacco retailers, at five of which tobacco sales regulation was discussed. However there may have been other meetings with officials and to identify them all would incur disproportionate cost as this information is not held centrally. In addition, the Department has regular contact with retailers (some of which sell tobacco products), on a variety of business issues.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Housing

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information her Department has gathered for the purposes of benchmarking on  (a) the number of local authorities in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland which built council houses in 2007 and  (b) the number of houses completed in each authority.

Margaret Beckett: Statistics on local authority house building in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the respective responsibility of Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Fire Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent consideration she has given to proposals to establish a regional fire control centre for the East of England; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: A regional fire control centre for the East of England has been built as part of the FiReControl project, which will deliver a fully integrated national network of nine Regional Control Centres (RCC). The RCCs will greatly increase the resilience of the fire and rescue service and in particular will enable it to respond more effectively to major national emergencies—for example terrorist attacks; or floods.
	The benefits of the FiReControl project for the region are set out in "The FiReControl Business Case Part 1: the Regional Case for the East of England", which was published on 8 July 2008 copies of which have been placed in the House Library. This can also be found at on the Department's website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/fire/resilienceresponse/firecontrol/businesscase/

Home Information Packs: Finance

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department has budgeted for supporting home information packs in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 4 November 2008
	 Programme resources allocated to support the implementation of home information packs over the current spending review period are : £1.0 million in 2008-09; £0.5 million in 2009-10; and £0.5 million in 2010-11.

Housing: Teachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department plans to spend on  (a) Homebuy and  (b) Key Worker Living for school teachers in each of the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Julia Goldsworthy) on 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 951W.

Land Use: Quarrying

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether disused and reclaimed limestone quarries in spatial strategy growth areas would be considered a suitable site for new homes; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: At the regional level, the regional spatial strategy should identify broad strategic locations for new housing developments so that the need and demand for housing can be addressed in a way that reflects sustainable development principles.
	At the local level, it is the responsibility of local planning authorities preparing local development documents to set out a strategy for the planned location of new housing which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development.

Land Use: Quarrying

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether disused limestone quarries are classified as brownfield sites.

Margaret Beckett: The definition of previously-developed land (often referred to as brownfield land) set out in Planning Policy Statement 3, Annex B, excludes land that has been developed for minerals extraction where provision for restoration has been made through development control procedures.

Local Authorities: Bank Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have funds deposited with Landsbanki; and how much is deposited in each case.

John Healey: The Local Government Association (LGA) reported on 17 October that 123 authorities have deposited £919.6 million in Icelandic banks and their UK licensed subsidiaries; and it has published a full list of 104 LGA member councils that have told the association that they have deposits in these banks. This is available on the LGA website at:
	http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/aio/1135431.
	The LGA's analysis of the information that they collected from authorities is that £347.3 million of this total amount was deposited in Landsbanki. The authorities that the LGA have said have deposits in Landsbanki are as follows, but they have not disclosed the amounts held by each authority.
	Aylesbury Vale district council
	Barnet
	Bassetlaw district council
	Bolsover district council
	Bolton
	Braintree
	Breckland
	Bridgnorth
	Bristol
	Buckinghamshire
	Burnley
	Caerphilly county borough council
	Cambridge
	Ceredigion county council
	Cheltenham
	Chorley
	Colchester
	Cornwall county council
	Daventry
	Derwentside
	Doncaster
	Dorset
	Dorset Police Authority
	Dover
	East Staffordshire
	Exeter city council
	Flintshire county council
	Gloucestershire county council
	Haringey
	Havering
	Hertfordshire county council
	High Peak
	Hillingdon
	Ipswich borough council
	Kent county council
	Kent Police Authority
	Kirklees
	Lancashire county council
	Lancashire Fire Authority
	Lancaster
	Lewes
	Neath Port Talbot county borough council
	Newham
	Norfolk
	North East Lincolnshire
	North Lincolnshire
	North Somerset
	North Wiltshire district council
	Northumberland county council
	Nottingham city
	Nuneaton and Bedworth
	Oxfordshire county council
	Plymouth
	Powys county council
	Purbeck
	Reigate and Banstead
	Restormel
	Rotherham
	Rugby
	Sevenoaks
	Solihull
	Somerset county council
	South Ribble borough council
	South Yorkshire Pensions Authority
	South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority
	South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
	Stoke-on-Trent city council
	Surrey county council
	Surrey Heath
	Tewkesbury
	Thames Valley Police
	Tonbridge and Mailing
	Uttlesford
	Vale of White Horse
	Wakefield
	West Lindsey
	West Oxfordshire
	Westminster city council
	Wokingham
	Wychavon
	Wyre Forest.

Local Government: Cheshire

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of progress in the formation of the Cheshire East unitary authority.

John Healey: I have recently completed a series of visits to all restructuring areas, including a visit to Cheshire East on 2 October. In addition, officials from my Department report to me following the regular monthly meetings that they conduct with the council chief executives and leading officers responsible for implementation of the unitary structures, including those of Cheshire East.
	The information points to Cheshire East being on track to deliver an effective unitary council, including the savings envisaged in their original bid.

Local Government: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average payment per person to members of the local government pension scheme was in 2008.

John Healey: The most recent published information on the costs of the Local Government Pension Scheme was issued on 15 October 2008 and can be found on the CLG website at
	http://wwwlocalcommunities.gov.uk/finance/stats/pensions.htm.
	Details of the costs of the scheme for 2008-09 will be published towards the end of 2009.

Local Government: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many individuals belong to the  (a) old and  (b) new local government pension scheme.

John Healey: All the existing 1,782,000 members of the scheme on 31 March 2008 were transferred into the new scheme with effect from 1 April 2008.

Minister for the East of England

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what engagements have been undertaken by the Minister for the East of England in an official capacity since her appointment; and what the location of each was.

Sadiq Khan: The Minister for the East of England has made many visits throughout the region and I would be happy to publish a list of all of her engagements since her appointment in July 2007.
	
		
			  Date  Venue  Event Summary 
			 July 2007   
			 26 July 2007 GO-East, Cambridgeshire Introductory Meeting with Key Stakeholders 
			
			  September 2007   
			 3 September 2007 EEDA, Cambridgeshire Visit to East of England Development Agency 
			 10 September 2007 Ipswich, Suffolk Visit to East of England Regional Assembly and Ipswich to meet Chief Executives and key stakeholders 
			 17 September 2007 Norwich, Norfolk Meeting with Norfolk County Council Chief Executive and key stakeholders 
			 28 September 2007 Stevenage, Hertfordshire Chair Regional Partnership Group 
			
			  October 2007   
			 1 October 2007 Newmarket, Suffolk Local Area Agreement Event 
			 11 October 2007 House of Commons, London Greater South East Reception 
			 16 October 2007 House of Commons, London Meeting with Chief Executive of the Thames Gateway Development Corporation 
			 17 October 2007 House of Commons, London Meeting with Learning Skills Council Regional Director 
			 26 October 2007 Lowestoft, Suffolk Business Liaison Forum - meet with Business Leaders and Bob Blizzard MP 
			 6 November 2007 Cambridge Attending Destination Growth Event 
			
			  November 2007   
			 9 November 2007 Norfolk and Suffolk Flood Visit - Following Tidal Surge visit to Yarmouth and Lowestoft with John Healey 
			 12 November 2007 GO-East, Cambridgeshire Meeting with Chief Executive of EEDA 
			 12 November 2007 GO-East, Cambridgeshire East of England Business Group (EEBG) Meeting 
			 12 November 2007 GO-East, Cambridgeshire Regional Cities East (RCE) Meeting 
			 16 November 2007 Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Visit to Avian Flu Regional Operations Centre 
			 21 November 2007 Caxton House, London Meeting GO-East Regional Director, Norfolk and Suffolk Local Authority Chief Executives following Tidal Surge; Flood Recovery meeting 
			 28 November 2007 Docklands, London Thames Gateway Delivery Plan Launch 
			 30 November 2007 Benedict Rooms, Peterborough, Cambridge Rural Skills Conference 
			
			  December 2007   
			 3 December 20077 Trinity Centre, Cambridgeshire Regional Partnership Group 
			 10 December 2007 Stevenage, Hertfordshire Meeting with Local Authority Chief Executives and Growth Representatives to discuss growth agenda 
			 20 December 2007 Stevenage, Hertfordshire English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) Photocall to support sheep farmers in the East of England 
			
			  January 2008   
			 16 January 2008 House of Commons, London Meeting with John Healey with Mike Penning MP on Buncefield 
			 17 January 2008 Watford Health Campus, Hertfordshire Visit to Watford Health Campus 
			 21 January 2008 Happisburgh, Norfolk Visit to Happisburgh on the North Norfolk Coast with Normal Lamb MP to discuss Coastal Issues 
			 23 January 2008 BERR Conference Centre, London RDAs and Regional Ministers Meeting 
			
			  February 2008   
			 20 February 2008 26 Whitehall, London Meeting with NHS East of England 
			 25 February 2008 Thurrock Visiting South Essex Rape Crisis Centre 
			
			
			  March 2008   
			 3 March 2008 GO-East, Cambridgeshire Sub-National Review meeting with County Council Leaders 
			 10 March 2008 Grafham Water, Peterborough Launch of Regional Water Partnership 
			 31 March 2008 Trinity Centre, Cambridgeshire Regional Partnership Group (RPG) meeting 
			
			  April 2008   
			 2 April 2008 26 Whitehall, London Northstowe Cross Government Liaison Group Meeting 
			 3 April 2008 26 Whitehall, London Meeting Stephen Castle and Charles Allen, Olympics Committee 
			 21 April 2008 House of Commons, London LOCOG event for East of England MPs 
			 24 April 2008 BERR Conference Centre, London Quarterly RDA Chairs and Ministers Meeting 
			 28 April 2008 Chelmsford, Essex Visit to see anti-social behaviour partnership working in Chelmsford 
			
			  May 2008   
			 12 May 2008 Letchworth, Hertfordshire Sustainable Development Round Table Meeting 
			 12 May 2008 Letchworth, Hertfordshire Launch of the Regional Spatial Strategy 
			 19 May 2008 Moller Centre, Cambridgeshire Regional Local Authority Leaders meeting 
			 19 May 2008 Moller Centre, Cambridgeshire Event with EEDA and Local Authority Leaders to discuss SNR and the region's ambition 
			 23 May 2008 Peterborough Launching the English for Speakers of Other Languages Strategy 
			
			  June 2008   
			 6 June 2008 Stevenage Borough Council, Hertfordshire Regional Partnership Group (RPG) 
			 9 June 2008 Felixstowe, Suffolk Coastal Visit to Suffolk to see coastal issues including climate change adaptation and mitigation 
			 16 June 2008 Thurrock Council Offices Meeting with LA Chief Executives and Skills Representatives 
			 23 June 2008 Newmarket, Suffolk Speaking at Care Services Improvement Partnership East of England event 
			 30 June 2008 Peterborough Visit to HMP Peterborough (Womens' prison) 
			
			  July 2008   
			 3 July 2008 BERR Conference Centre, London Quarterly RDA Chairs and Ministers Meeting 
			 11 July 2008 GO-East, Cambridgeshire National Day of Consultation for Draft Legislative Programme 
			 17 July 2008 House of Commons, London Reception for industry reps to encourage occupants for Orbis, promote Lowestoft and mark handover of keys to Suffolk county council 
			 21 July 2008 Peterborough Visit to Perkins Engines—to see the opening of the expansion of Perkins Learning Centre 
			 22 July 2008 London Meeting with Julie Spence, Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Constabulary 
			
			  August 2008   
			 28 August 2008 Moller Centre Cambridgeshire Launch of Economic Report with HMT and EEDA 
			
			  September 2008   
			 9 September 2008 London Recording video clip for Cambs Constabulary honour-based violence hotline launch 
			 15 September 2008 GO-East, Cambridgeshire Meeting regional house builders to hear about their experiences in the current climate 
			 16 September 2008 Newmarket, Suffolk Regional Transport Summit 
			 18 September 2008 Luton Hoo Hotel, Luton, Bedfordshire Launching BLEDP Joint Economic Development Strategy 
			
			  October 2008   
			 10 October 2008 Stevenage Leisure Centre, Hertfordshire Chairing the Regional Partnership Group meeting 
			 13 October 2008 Orbis Energy Centre, Lowestoft, Suffolk Launch event for the East of England Coastal Forum 
			 20 October 2008 BAA Stansted, Essex East of England's 'Talent Debate' 
			 21 October 2008 House of Commons, London Meeting with Business Link East 
			 27 October 2008 Newmarket Race Course, Suffolk LAA Event 
			 29 October 2008 DCMS Office, London Meeting with EEDA Board

National House Building Council: Complaints

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many complaints she has received on the operation of the National House Building Council in the last 12 months.

Margaret Beckett: The Department has received 17 items of correspondence in the last year which have included some form of complaint about the National House Building Council (NHBC).
	The Department has no power to intervene in disputes between customers and the NHBC. NHBC have an established process for dealing with complaints, which should be used in the first instance. Any outstanding complaints about NHBC's role as an approved inspector are dealt with by the Construction Industry Council or in relation to their insurance cover by the financial services ombudsman.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to bring forward an amendment to the General Permitted Development Order in relation to micro wind turbines.

Margaret Beckett: The Government are considering this issue and will make a statement in due course.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Legislation

John Baron: To ask the Leader of the House how many pages of  (a) primary legislation and  (b) delegated legislation were passed by the House in each (i) Session between 1983 and 1995 and (ii) calendar year between 1983 and the last year for which figures are available.

Chris Bryant: The information is set out in the following table, but is only readily available by calendar year.
	The figures do not include Church of England Measures. The page size of bound volumes of primary legislation changed in 1988.
	
		
			   Pages of primary legislation  Pages of delegated legislation 
			 1983 1,420 6,439 
			 1984 2,876 6,099 
			 1985 3,233 6,518 
			 1986 2,847 9,091 
			 1987 1,538 6,300 
			 1988 3,403 6,342 
			 1989 2,489 6,702 
			 1990 2,391 6,590 
			 1991 2,254 7,670 
			 1992 2,678 9,014 
			 1993 2,645 7,996 
			 1994 2,335 10,188 
			 1995 3,001 9,734 
			 1996 3,150 9,528 
			 1997 2,061 8,613 
			 1998 2,469 7,429 
			 1999 2,063 10,754 
			 2000 3,841 8,712 
			 2001 1,594 10,760 
			 2002 2,868 9,109 
			 2003 4,030 9,378 
			 2004 3,470 9,574 
			 2005 2,868 12,928 
			 2006 4,911 11,562

Legislation

John Baron: To ask the Leader of the House how many hours the House  (a) sat,  (b) considered primary legislation and  (c) considered delegated legislation in each (i) Session between 1983-84 and 1995-96 and (ii) calendar year between 1983 and the last year for which figures are available.

Chris Bryant: The information requested is set out in the following table. The figures refer to time spent on the Floor of the House.
	This information is collected by Session and could be provided for calendar years only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Number of hours the House sat  Number of hours considering primary legislation on the Floor of the House  Number of hours considering delegated legislation on the Floor of the House 
			  Session  Hours  Minutes  Hours  Minutes  Hours  Minutes 
			 1983-84 1,914 33 615 7 195 35 
			 1984-85 1,566 17 502 52 156 30 
			 1985-86 1,534 30 495 14 106 1 
			 1986-87 930 26 298 1 60 18 
			 1987-88 1,978 40 685 10 156 35 
			 1988-89 1,581 41 523 6 88 1 
			 1989-90 1,468 28 434 58 104 29 
			 1990-91 1,373 53 395 54 76 5 
			 1991-92 695 54 218 28 48 17 
			 1992-93 1,983 48 678 39 134 27 
			 1993-94 1,258 16 375 30 105 0 
			 1994-95 1,313 43 335 18 87 39 
			 1995-96 1,278 29 356 26 77 38

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burma: Politics and Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Burma; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 November 2008,  Official Report, column 505W to the hon. Member for the Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans).

Burma: Storms

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanism exists for monitoring the international aid delivered to Burma following Cyclone Nargis to ensure that it is not misused or misappropriated; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1163W to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow).

Democratic Republic of Congo: Human Rights

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 November 2008 to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) (UIN number 233081).

Departmental Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent on overnight accommodation by his Department's civil servants in the last 12 months.

Douglas Alexander: It is not possible to disaggregate costs in respect of overnight accommodation without incurring disproportionate cost.

Ethiopia: Overseas Aid

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's aid programme in Ethiopia.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 November 2008 to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Richard Ottaway) (UIN number 233032).

Stress

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the 2004 stress audit carried out by his Department will be repeated with results of audits published to monitor progress; whether the 2007 analysis of barriers in his Department's recruitment programme was published; what information his Department has gathered on the effects of its policies and practices on recruitment, development and retention of employees with mental illnesses within  (a) his Department and  (b) public sector bodies for which he has responsibility; and what use has been made of that information.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) undertook a stress audit in 2004 and the results were published to all staff via the Department's intranet site. A further stress audit was carried out in April 2008 to monitor the progress of DFID's stress management strategy. The results of the second audit were published to all staff via the Department's intranet in September 2008. Overall, the results were positive, showing an improvement on the 2004 position.
	A full equality impact assessment of DFID's recruitment procedures was completed in the summer of 2007, prior to the introduction of our new recruitment system which was launched in March 2008. This work is outlined in section 5.5 of the 2007-08 Annual Diversity report which is published on DFID's external website:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk
	An analysis of the impact of gender, ethnicity, age and disability on DFID's recruitment policies and practices is also published in section 3 of annex A to DFID's 2007-08 Annual report under the Disability Equality Duty introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, DFID is required to publish and implement a disability equality scheme. This is a plan setting out how we will carry out the disability equality duty, monitor and report on progress. In particular, this includes our arrangements for gathering information on the effect of our policies and practices on recruitment, development and retention of our disabled employees, including those with mental health conditions, and making use of that information.
	No routine information is gathered on the recruitment, development and retention of DFID staff with mental illnesses. However, DFID has been accredited with the Job Centre Plus' Disability Two Ticks Award for the recruitment of disabled staff (which includes those with a declared mental illness). Our human resources case management team also liaises closely with our employee health and wellbeing team to support staff with mental illness and to help ensure their ability to attend, and be effective, at work—for example by agreeing to "reasonable adjustments".
	DFID's equality impact assessments and Annual Diversity reports are reviewed by the Human Resources Steering Committee, and the management board, to identify priorities for continued awareness raising and actions to fulfil our equalities duties.
	DFID is responsible for 21 appointments to three non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs):
	Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
	Crown Agents' Holding and Realisation Board
	Overseas Service Pensions Scheme Advisory Board
	Only the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission is currently active. DFID is committed to the Government's agenda for improving diversity on the boards of public bodies. To this end, and to encourage applications for all appointments from women, people from minority ethnic backgrounds and disabled people, we advertise in a range of publications and ensure that each advertisement makes it clear that applications are welcome from all parts of the community.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which aid agencies have suspended their activities in northern Darfur since January 2008 owing to targeted violence.

Ivan Lewis: MSF-Spain suspended activities in North Darfur in August 2008, and began to resume them in September. German Agro Action suspended food distribution activities in North Darfur during September and October 2008. GOAL temporarily suspended its programmes on 29 October. All of these were due to the increased risk to staff security. Access to rural areas of North Darfur has been intermittent during 2008, and many agencies operate remote working arrangements with occasional supervisory visits by relocatable staff.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of people in northern Darfur who do not have access to humanitarian aid following the withdrawal of aid groups from the region; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: As a result of the insecurity, in particular the campaign by the Government of Sudan against rebel groups in September, the UN reports that 43 per cent. of the 1.5 million conflict-affected population of North Darfur currently do not have access to humanitarian aid.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to ensure that a higher percentage of aid pledged by donors is delivered in Sudan.

Ivan Lewis: In 2005 the international community pledged $4.5 billion for Sudan and over the period 2005 to 2007 actually delivered $5.3 billion. A further $4.8 billion has been pledged for the period 2008-12.
	While the percentage of pledges delivered is excellent, the problem has been delivering on the commitment to shift funding from a humanitarian to a recovery and development focus. The Department has taken a leading role influencing existing funding mechanisms or supporting the establishment of new mechanisms which allow more donor money to be spent on recovery and development activities. These mechanisms include the Basic Services Fund and the Sudan Recovery Fund, which accept funds from multiple donors.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Birth Rate

Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the most recent figures available for numbers of  (a) births and  (b) abortions among those aged (i) 11 years and under, (ii) 12 years, (iii) 13 years, (iv) 14 years, (v) 15 years and (vi) 16 years old.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the most recent figures available are for (a) birth and (b) abortion among those aged (i) 11 years and under, (ii) 12 years, (iii) 13 years, (iv) 14 years, (v) 15 years and (vi) 16 years. (233625)
	Numbers of conceptions leading to maternities and abortions are provided so that meaningful comparisons can be made between the number of maternities and abortions that occur by age of woman.
	Available figures are estimates of the number of conceptions that resulted in a live birth, stillbirth or legal termination.
	To preserve the confidentiality of individuals, figures for girls aged 11 years and under, 12 and 13 have not been provided separately. Numbers of conceptions leading to a maternity or an abortion for girls aged under 14, 14, 15 and 16 in England and Wales for 2006 (the most recent year for which figures are available), are shown in the table below.
	
		
			  Number of conceptions to girls aged under 14. 14, 15 and 16 that lead to a maternity or an abortion, 2006, England and Wales 
			  Age  Conceptions leading to a maternity  Conceptions leading to an abortion  Total conceptions 
			 Under 14 109 186 295 
			 14 611 1,153 1,764 
			 15 2,428 3,339 5,767 
			 16 6,721 6,386 13,107

Dorneywood

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East on 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 174W, on Dorneywood, on what dates the  (a) Commons Chief Whip and  (b) Leader of the House of Lords made use of Dorneywood for official engagements.

Kevin Brennan: The Leader of the House of Lords is chairman of the Trustees of the Dorneywood Trust and as such makes regular visits to oversee the running of the property as well as having official meetings. The Leader of the House of Lords and the House of Commons Chief Whip used Dorneywood for official engagements in September and October 2007, and in January, July and September 2008.

Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) UK nationals,  (b) UK- born people,  (c) foreign nationals,  (d) non-UK EU nationals,  (e) EU A8 nationals and  (f) non-EU nationals of working age were in employment in the UK in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available; and what the employment rate was in each group.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on how many (a) UK nationals, (b) UK born people, (c) foreign nationals, (d) non-UK EU nationals, (e) EU A8 nationals and (f) non-EU nationals of working age were in employment in the UK in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available; and what the employment rate was in each group. (233095)
	The estimates are shown in Table 1 and come from the Labour Force Survey. Employment estimates for the most recent four calendar quarters are provided for (a) UK nationals, (b) UK born people, (c) non-UK nationals, (d) EU 24 nationals, (e) EU A8 nationals and (f) non-EU nationals of working age. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	For the purposes of this answer, nationality is defined as that reported by respondents at the time of the survey.
	The estimates provided are derived from the LFS microdata which are weighted using the official population estimates published in 2007. They are not entirely consistent with the figures published in the monthly Labour Market Statistics First Release which are weighted using more up-to-date population estimates.
	
		
			  Table 1: Working age( 1)  employment levels and rates( 2) 
			  Thousands and percentages, not seasonally adjusted 
			   Nationality  Country of Birth 
			   UK   Non-UK( 3)   EU24+4   EUAB( 5)   Non-EU( 3)   UK Born( 6) 
			   Level  Rate  Level  Rate  Level  Rate  Level  Rate  Level  Rate  Level  Rate 
			 July to September 2007 26,023 75.4 2,113 68.6 966 78.5 430 83.6 1,147 62.1 24,694 75.8 
			 October to December 2007 26,050 75.6 2,173 68.3 1,006 79.2 469 84.0 1,167 61.1 24,718 76.0 
			 January to March 2008 25,870 76.1 2,254 69.2 1,063 79.1 600 83.1 1,191 62.3 24,547 75.5 
			 April to June 2008(7) *25,882 75.1 *2,266 68.9 1,061 79.4 **498 84.5 *1,204 61.7 *24,532 75.4 
			 (1 )Defined as females aged 16 to 59 and males aged 16 to 64. (2 )The figures presented are weighted to the population estimates published in 2007. (3 )The groups non-UK and non-EU do not include those who did not state their country of birth. (4 )The EU24 group includes: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal. Republic of Ireland, Spain (including the Canary Islands), Sweden, Romania, Bulgaria and the EUA8 countries. (5 )The EUA8 countries are: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic, Slovenia. (6 )The estimates for UK born levels and rates are provided on the basis of a respondents country of birth. (7 )Coefficients of variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates, as described as follows:  Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220.  Key Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness * 0 < = CV< 5 Estimates are considered precise ** 5 < = CV < 10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 < = CV < 20 Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes  Source:  Labour Force Survey

Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) people and  (b) people of working age in employment in the UK were (i) UK citizens, (ii) citizens of other EU member states and (iii) citizens of non-EU member states in each quarter since 1st January 1995; and what the (A) percentage change in each category was for each such quarter compared with the previous quarter and (B) employment rate for UK citizens was in each such quarter.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on how many (a) people and (b) people of working age in employment in the UK were (a) UK citizens, (ii) citizens of other KU member states and (iii) citizens of non-EU member states in each quarter since 1st January 1995; and what the (A) percentage change in each category was for each quarter compared with the previous quarter and (B) employment rate for UK citizens was in each such quarter (233570).
	Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.

Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people in employment in  (a) each region and  (b) each local authority area were (i) UK citizens, (ii) citizens of other EU member states and (iii) citizens of non-EU member states in (A) each year since 1997 and (B) each of the first four quarters for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question how many people in employment in (a) each region and (b) each local authority were (i) UK citizens, (ii) citizens of other EU member states and (iii) citizens of non-EU member states in (A) each year since 1997 and (B) each of the last four quarters for which figures are available. (233571)
	Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.

Lobbying: EU Action

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the EU voluntary register of lobbyists; and whether he has considered the merits of establishing registers of those lobbying Government departments.

Kevin Brennan: The Government's position on the European Commission's voluntary register and code of conduct for interest representatives (lobbyists), is as set out in its response to the Commission's Green Paper on "The European Transparency Initiative", and in the Minister for Europe's letter of 14 September 2006 to the chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Contacts between Government Departments and lobbyists are governed by the requirements of the "Ministerial Code", "Civil Service Code", "Civil Service Management Code", "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers", and "Guidance for Civil Servants on Contacts with Lobbyists" as appropriate. The Government look forward to receiving the Public Administration Select Committee's report on lobbying in due course.

Suicide

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people in each five year age cohort committed suicide in each of the last 20 years; what the suicide rate for each cohort was in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people in each five year age cohort committed suicide in each of the last 20 years and what the suicide rate for each cohort was in each of those years. (233812)
	The tables attached provide the number of deaths where suicide was the underlying cause of death for persons aged 15 and over by five year age group (table 1), and the suicide rate per 100,000 population for each five year age group (table 2), from 1988 to 2007 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths where suicide was the underlying cause of death, England and Wales, by five-year age group, 1988  to  2007( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3,)( )( 4) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			   Age group 
			   15-19  20-24  25-29  30-34  35-39  40-44  45-49  50-54  55-59  60-64  65-69  70-74  75-79  80-84  85+ 
			 1988 234 535 486 509 546 547 409 422 416 384 394 340 334 232 125 
			 1989 212 505 517 481 467 475 408 391 389 317 333 236 273 183 115 
			 1990 193 552 599 473 509 550 460 387 343 321 340 256 243 175 122 
			 1991 200 510 573 556 526 564 508 393 333 291 230 220 218 177 118 
			 1992 164 529 585 532 507 537 535 385 340 316 280 280 197 163 108 
			 1993 149 531 558 501 473 508 508 371 336 253 273 216 194 163 131 
			 1994 141 484 594 593 456 444 421 379 289 273 247 242 181 178 146 
			 1995 145 453 593 576 512 554 447 389 312 255 217 202 179 157 120 
			 1996 169 390 552 633 477 480 477 343 297 210 199 227 169 155 120 
			 1997 170 420 542 569 506 436 482 375 287 229 194 195 160 126 123 
			 1998 194 457 632 719 554 494 484 435 314 240 232 162 184 117 114 
			 1999 174 376 564 641 607 508 463 437 319 255 223 206 202 124 134 
			 2000 169 386 537 587 613 478 481 430 339 219 205 201. 175 112 137 
			 2001 180 326 449 582 569 478 463 454 354 240 185 191 178 113 129 
			 2002 152 323 459 550 594 510 444 408 352 211 200 164 136 118 130 
			 2003 142 350 397 557 590 551 445 402 360 238 169 178 175 127 115 
			 2004 160 316 394 502 596 555 461 428 374 234 226 170 165 150 140 
			 2005 145 300 342 488 576 555 510 420 376 257 186 152 122 138 135 
			 2006 121 278 334 414 544 522 481 412 414 278 192 148 138 118 110 
			 2007 128 267 324 433 522 524 435 382 351 275 179 127 131 127 101 
			 (1) Suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959 and E980-E989, excluding E988.8 for the years 1988 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34, excluding Y33.9 (where the Coroner's verdict was pending) for the years 2001 to 2007. (2) Figures include deaths of non-residents. (3) Suicide and undetermined intent deaths have not been included for children under the age of 15 years. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Age specific mortality rate where suicide was the underlying cause of death, England and Wales, by five-year age group, 1988  to  2007( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3,)( )( 4) 
			  Rate (per 100,000) 
			   Age group 
			   15-19  20-24  25-29  30-34  35-39  40-44  45- 4 9  50-54  55-59  60-64  65-89  70-74  75-79  80-84  85+ 
			 1988 6 13 12 15 16 15 14 16 16 15 15 17 20 22 18 
			 1989 6 12 13 14 14 13 14 14 15 12 13 13 16 17 16 
			 1990 6 14 15 13 15 15 15 14 13 12 13 13 14 16 16 
			 1991 6 13 14 15 16 15 16 14 13 11 11 11 13 16 15 
			 1992 5 14 14 14 15 15 16 14 13 12 12 13 12 14 13 
			 1993 5 14 14 13 14 15 14 13 13 10 11 10 13 14 15 
			 1994 5 14 15 15 13 13 12 13 11 11 10 11 12 15 17 
			 1995 5 13 15 14 14 17 12 13 12 10 9 9 12 13 13 
			 1996 6 12 14 15 13 14 13 11 11 9 8 11 10 13 13 
			 1997 5 13 14 14 13 13 14 11 11 9 8 9 9 11 13 
			 1998 6 15 17 17 14 14 14 13 12 10 10 8 10 11 12 
			 1999 5 12 15 16 15 15 14 12 11 10 10 10 11 12 14 
			 2000 5 13 15 14 15 13 15 12 12 9 9 10 10 10 14 
			 2001 6 10 13 14 14 13 14 13 12 9 8 9 10 9 13 
			 2002 5 10 14 14 14 13 13 12 11 8 9 8 8 9 13 
			 2003 4 11 12 14 14 14 13 12 11 9 7 9 10 10 12 
			 2004 5 9 12 13 14 14 13 13 11 9 10 8 10 11 14 
			 2005 4 9 10 13 14 14 14 13 11 9 8 7 7 10 13 
			 2006 3 8 10 11 13 13 13 13 12 10 8 7 8 9 10 
			 2007 4 7 9 12 13 13 12 12 11 9 8 6 7 10 9 
			 (1) Suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959 and E980-E989, excluding E988.8 for the years 1988 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34, excluding Y33.9 (where the Coroner's verdict was pending) for the years 2001 to 2007. (2) Figures include deaths of non-residents. (3) Suicide and undetermined intent deaths have not been included for children under the age of 15 years. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	—continued

Super Output Areas

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a table listing the local government ward and the parliamentary constituency that each super output area  (a) lower and  (b) middle layer falls within.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if a table could be placed in the Library listing the local government ward and the parliamentary constituency that each super output area (a) lower layer and (b) middle layer, falls within. (232867)
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Wilf Stevenson

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the  (a) job title and  (b) job specification is of Mr. Wilf Stevenson in Downing Street.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer the Prime Minister gave the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 23 October 2008,  Official Report, column 554W.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Art Works: Royalties

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on EU Directive 2001/84/EC.

David Lammy: There have been no recent discussions of this EU Decision, which allowed the Republic of Cyprus to participate in the EU education, training and youth programmes in operation at that time, prior to its accession to the EU in 2004.
	The EU Programmes referred to in the 2001 Decision were themselves replaced after 2006 by a Decision adopting the current EU Programmes for Lifelong Learning and Youth that run from 2007-13.
	EU Ministers last discussed the current range of Lifelong Learning and Youth programmes when they were adopted in 2006.

Departmental Lost Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what  (a) equipment and  (b) data have been lost by his Department in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) Our records for the last 12 months show that the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has lost three Blackberry devices.
	 (b) The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, did not report any personal data related incidents for the period 2007-08.

Intellectual Property: EU Law

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the Government's policy is on the proposed harmonising of the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights pursuant to Council Directive 93/98/EEC of 29 October 1993; whether such harmonisation and application of the resale right for the benefit of those entitled under the artist after their death is sought by the UK Government; and what assessment has been made of the preparedness of the UK's legal procedures to accommodate the application of the resale right for the benefit of those entitled under the artist after their death.

David Lammy: The directive 93/98/EEC of 29 October 1993 harmonised copyright term throughout the EU. The UK has fully implemented this directive.
	The Government will decide whether or not to seek to extend the derogation to artist's resale right for the work of deceased artists once the analysis of the responses to the recent consultation on the issue has been completed. The Government will then need to decide whether or not any amendments will need to be made to UK law.

Mentally Ill Staff

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what information his Department has gathered on the effect of its policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of employees with mental illnesses within  (a) his Department and  (b) the public sector bodies for which he has responsibility; and what use has been made of that information.

Si�n Simon: Under the Disability Equality Duty introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, the Department and its public sector bodies listed in the associated Regulations are required to publish and implement Disability Equality Schemes. These are plans setting out how they will carry out the Disability Equality Duty, monitor, and report on progress. In particular this includes their arrangements for gathering information on the effect of their policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of their disabled employees, including those with mental health conditions, and making use of that information.
	The Department makes reasonable adjustments for people with mental health related disabilities and has an occupational health service that advises managers on the steps they can take to help people with mental health related illnesses return to and stay in work. A confidential welfare service is also available for staff who may wish to discuss any health related issues. The Department uses the Guaranteed Interview Scheme when recruiting externally and for internal job filling.
	In line with the Disability Equality Duty, a report is published every three years to show: progress towards disability equality in my policy sector; and proposals for co-ordination of future work by relevant public authorities within my policy sector. These reports will show what impact, if any, policies have had on the recruitment and retention of disabled people including those with mental health conditions, and set out proposals to address any gaps identified when establishing the progress made across the policy sector. The first report must be published by December 2008.
	The public sector bodies sponsored by my Department that are subject to these requirements are responsible for publishing and implementing their own disability equality schemes.

Students: Electoral Register

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps his Department is taking to assist universities in their efforts to encourage students to register to vote.

David Lammy: The Department strongly supports the promotion of active citizenship among students in higher education, for example through increased opportunities for volunteering and other forms of community engagement.
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is funding a project involving 10 higher education institutions, designed to incorporate modern citizenship modules into programmes of study in a variety of disciplines. Led by the universities of Southampton, Keele and Liverpool John Moores, the project has developed innovative learning materials for one to two-week modules in 11 areas of citizenship.

Students: Finance

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage universities to use all of their available budgets for bursaries and scholarships to students needing financial support.

David Lammy: Higher education institutions are not allowed to charge variable fees to undergraduates unless they have an access agreement approved by the Director of Fair Access, which covers the payment of bursaries. Once that access agreement has been approved, the Director monitors each institution's performance against the obligations in its access agreement, and has powers to impose penalties if there is a breach.
	In 2006-07, the first year of the new fee and student support arrangements, around 25 per cent. of the additional income generated by variable fees has been recycled into bursary payments to students or into outreach work included as part of the access agreement. The Director concluded that all institutions had complied with their obligations. His report identified, however, that there was a minority of students who did not apply for a bursary and whose eligibility would not have been automatically apparent from information supplied by the Student Loans Company. We are working with institutions, the Director of Fair Access and the Student Loans Company to address this issue.
	The Director of fair Access is currently examining institutions' payment of bursaries in 2007-08.

Students: Finance

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that all higher education students are aware of the bursaries which exist to provide financial support.

David Lammy: Higher education institutions provide information about the bursaries and scholarships they offer. The Office of Fair Access regulates their activities in this area and has provided additional guidance for institutions based on the findings of its Access Agreement Monitoring Report for 2006-07. The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills continues to raise awareness of all elements of the higher education student finance package, including bursaries, via literature, the internet and campaign material. Information for prospective students on bursaries is also available via the Universities and Colleges Admissions System website.

JUSTICE

Contact Orders: Grandparents

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he has given to bringing forward proposals to remove the requirement in the Children Act 1989 for grandparents and other extended kin to seek leave to apply for contact in family court proceedings; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have no plans to remove the requirement in the Children Act 1989 for grandparents and other extended kin to seek leave of the court to apply for contact in family court proceedings.

Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when his Department's guidance relating to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 will be published.

Jack Straw: The provisions of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act are being brought into force in stages. Of the 146 substantive sections, 64 (44 per cent.) are wholly, or partly, in force. The Ministry of Justice has issued two circulars providing guidance on a number of the provisions of the Act which have been commenced, these are available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/criminal-justice-bill.htm
	Prison Service instructions have also been issued on specific provisions, where appropriate. Further guidance will be issued, as necessary, as further provisions are commenced over the coming months.

Departmental Databases

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what additional safeguards have been put in place to ensure data security in the  (a) Libra,  (b) Prison Nomis,  (c) ViSOR,  (d) OASys,  (e) Connectivity,  (f) E-Asset and  (g) Secure E-Mail IT systems following recent data losses.

David Hanson: The Ministry of Justice, along with all Government Departments, takes its responsibilities for protecting the confidentiality of the information we handle very seriously.
	The Data Handling ReviewFinal Report, published by the Cabinet Office in June 2008, summarises the work conducted in Departments to improve data handling following the data losses that occurred in late 2007. The report also sets mandatory minimum standards for Departments to follow, for example introducing new rules on the use of protective measures, such as encryption of removable media.

Departmental Liability

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

Maria Eagle: Government accounting rules require certain contingent liabilities to be reported to Parliament at the earliest opportunity, either by means of a Parliamentary Minute or via Supply Estimates. The dates on which the Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies first reported such contingent liabilities are recorded in the annual resource accounts and in Supply Estimates for as long as the liabilities continue to exist. The following specific liabilities have been reported in the last five years:
	Indemnity to members of the 42 local area probation boards (Minute 6 June 2005);
	Central Council of Magistrates' Courts Committees indemnity (Minute 27 June 2006);
	Indemnity for chairman and members of the Mubarek inquiry (Minute 10 March 2006);
	Prison Service indemnity for British Airports Authority (Home Office 2006-07 resource accounts).
	In addition, the annual accounts of the Department and its non departmental public bodies report contingent liabilities in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 12 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets. These liabilities do not require specific parliamentary approval.

Departmental NDPBs

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding has been agreed with each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies for the period 2008 to 2011.

Maria Eagle: Funding for the Ministry of Justice non-departmental public bodies has been agreed for 2008-09 only. Funding for 2009-10 and 2010-11 has not been agreed at this time and will be discussed at a later stage.
	The details for each body are in the following table:
	
		
			  Ministry of Justice Non-Departmental Public Bodies 
			  Sponsored body  2008-09 ( million) 
			 Legal Services Commission (Administration Costs) 115 
			 Legal Services Commission (Fund) 2,025 
			 Criminal Cases Review Commission 7 
			 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority 204 
			 Judicial Appointments Commission 7 
			 Parole Board 8 
			 Youth Justice Board (England and Wales) 423 
			 Information Commissioner's Office 6 
			 Total 2,795 
			  Notes: 1. Costs are rounded to the nearest  million and include cash and non cash totals. 2. Bodies included are those with Executive NDPB status.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many drug rehabilitation requirements have included an abstinence requirement in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what proportion of those in receipt of  (a) a drug treatment and testing order and  (b) a drug rehabilitation requirement tested positive for opiate use 12 months after receipt of their order.

David Hanson: The drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR), successor to the Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO), does not impose a requirement of drug abstinence. Drug misuse is a chronic relapsing condition which can take many years to address successfully. The goal of the DRR is to move offenders through treatment toward abstinence and to manage episodes of relapse in a way which reduces harm to the individual and the community.
	Information on the proportion of those in receipt of DTTOs/DRRs who tested positive for opiate use 12 months after receipt of their order is not collated centrally. Such information can only be obtained by undertaking a trawl of individual records which would be at a disproportionate cost.

Drugs: Smuggling

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were  (a) prosecuted and  (b) convicted for offences related to the unlawful import or export of illicit drugs in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: Data showing the number of people proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts of importation and exportation of illicit drugs from 1997 to 2006 in England and Wales is contained in the table.
	The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for the unlawful importation and exportation of drugs( 1) , England and Wales, 1997 to 2006( 2,)( )( 3,)( )( 4) 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Proceeded against 1,624 1,425 1,356 1,252 1,777 1,657 1,108 964 1,084 904 
			 Found guilty 1,307 1,265 1,197 1,206 1,683 1,621 1,079 1,013 1,062 871 
			 (1) Includes selected offences under SS 50 and 68 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 and under section 19(a) and 19(b) of the Criminal Justice (internal Co-Operation) Act 1990. (2) These data are on the principal offence basis. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that-the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) The number of defendants found guilty in a particular year may exceed those proceeded against, as it may be the case that the proceedings in the magistrates court took place in the preceding year and they were found guilty at the Crown Court in the following year, or the defendants was found guilty for a different offence to the original offence proceeded against.

Euthanasia

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the Government's policy is on assisted suicide for those who are terminally ill; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Assisting another person to commit or attempt to commit suicide is an offence in this country. Whether terminally ill people should have the right to seek medical assistance to die is a controversial issue, which deeply divides public opinion. The Government believe that any change to the law in this area is an issue of individual conscience and hence a matter for Parliament to decide rather than Government policy. It has been debated in Parliament on a number of occasions but none of the private Members' Bills has progressed further than Second Reading.

Family Courts

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to make the operation of family courts more open and transparent.

Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 14 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1031W, to the hon. Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) and my answer of 17 October 2008,  Official Report, column l506W, to the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham).

Freedom of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what advice his Department has issued to other Government departments on the applicability of the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to messages sent by means of an instant message system; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice has not issued any advice to other Government Departments on instant message systems and its applicability to the Freedom of Information Act. If information is held by a public authority it will be subject to the provisions under the Act in the usual way.

HMP Whitemoor: Islam

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prisoners there are at HMP Whitemoor; and how many list their religion as Muslim;
	(2)  what facilities are provided to facilitate Muslim prisoners at HMP Whitemoor in practising their religion;
	(3)  what the arrangements for meeting the  (a) cultural and  (b) dietary requirements of Muslim prisoners at HMP Whitemoor are;
	(4)  what arrangements are made for the accommodation of Muslim prisoners at HMP Whitemoor.

Shahid Malik: On 4 November the number of prisoners at Whitemoor was 436. 157 declare themselves as Muslim.
	At Whitemoor all prisoners are placed in a single cellular accommodation. The location within the prison of an individual prisoner will depend on an individual risk assessment.
	The Prison Service Standard and Prison Service Order on Religion provide details of the practice of religion in prisons. As part of the multi-faith chaplaincy team at Whitemoor, a full-time Muslim Chaplain is employed to meet the religious needs of Muslim prisoners. Friday prayers are provided weekly led by the Muslim Chaplain. In addition the Muslim Chaplain provides religious instruction classes. Arrangements are also made by Whitemoor for prisoners to be able to observe the religious festivals appropriate to their particular religion.
	The facilities list allows prisoners to wear specific cultural clothing and to have specific cultural items in possession should they wish to do so. In developing menus account is taken of the medical and cultural needs of all prisoners. In the case of Muslim prisoners a halal menu option is provided. Prisoners are also permitted to cook for themselves on certain residential areas of the prison.

Human Rights Insight Project

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to date of the human rights Insight project has been.

Michael Wills: The Human Rights Insight Project, carried out from December 2004 to July 2006, was an extensive piece of original qualitative and quantitative research aimed at assessing awareness of and attitudes towards human rights, the Human Rights Act and its underlying principles among both the general public and front-line staff in specified public services. The findings of the research have been important in informing policy development in this area and using human rights principles to improve the delivery of public services. The cost was 200,000 over the period 2004-06.

Judicial Pension Scheme

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the average payment per person to members of the Judicial Pension Scheme was in 2008;
	(2)  how many individuals belong to the Judicial Pension Scheme.

Bridget Prentice: The average annual pension paid to members of the Judicial Pension Scheme (including dependants) for 2006-07 was approximately 36,000.
	Data on the number of active members in the Judicial Pension Scheme are available in the published resource accounts. As at 31 March 2007 there were 2,101 active members. Copies of the accounts are held in the Libraries of the House.

Land Registry: Documents

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many pages of original documentation the Land Registry plans to destroy in November 2009; what criteria are being used to decide which documents to dispose of; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The Land Registration Rules 2003 distinguish between documents kept by the registrar on 13 October 2003 (when the 2002 Act came into force) on which an entry in the register of title is or was founded, and documents that accompany an application made under the Land Registration Act 2002 which the registrar has decided to retain.
	In the case of documents within (a), the 2003 rules provided for a five-year period, which ended on 12 October 2008, during which certain persons (such as the current registered owners) were entitled to request the return of a document. Subject to any outstanding request, the registrar may now destroy any document within (a) if he is satisfied that he has retained a copy of the document, or further retention of the document is unnecessary. The most important documents within (a) have already been electronically scanned which means that a full copy of each document is available for public inspection.
	Land Registry will shortly issue a notice on their website, accompanied by press releases and notices to key stakeholders explaining that after a three month-period it will commence destroying the originals of these scanned documents. It is estimated that at least 5.5 million documents (or 35 million pages) will be affected.
	In the case of documents within (b), the applicant has a choice at the outset whether to have the document returned. If the applicant requests the return of a document and provides a certified copy, the original is returned. The registrar may destroy the document if he is satisfied that either he has retained a sufficient copy (typically by scanning it) of the document or further retention is unnecessary.
	In the case of an application for first registration of land, a certified copy is not required in respect of certain documents.

OASys System

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost has been of the OASys system since its inception in 2003.

Maria Eagle: The cost of supporting the OASys system since its inception in 2003 has been as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year   
			 2003-04 562,905 
			 2004-05 622,710 
			 2005-06 2,065,125 
			 2006-07 2,565,124 
			 2007-08 3,105,616 
		
	
	The costs so far incurred in FY 2008/09 are 1,504,955.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library copies of the background papers and minutes from the inter-party discussions on party funding.

Michael Wills: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor (Jack Straw) said in the debate on the publication of the White Paper, Party finance and expenditure in the United Kingdom, on 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 695, release of these papers is a matter for Sir Hayden Phillips. Sir Hayden indicated before Public Bill Committee on 4 November 2008 that he is actively considering the issue.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he gave to including provisions on electoral fraud in the Political Parties and Elections Bill.

Michael Wills: The Political Parties and Elections Bill is intended to implement a number of the proposals in the Government's White Paper, Party finance and expenditure in the United Kingdom. It also contains two reforms deigned to assist the administration of electoral registration and of European Parliament elections.
	The Government have put in place a number of measures to strengthen the security of the electoral system, in particular postal voting, through the Electoral Administration Act 2006 and associated secondary legislation. This includes the introduction of a system of personal identifiers for postal voters to ensure that postal votes counted at an election are valid. We believe that these measures are helping to reduce the number and scale of allegations of electoral offences.
	The Electoral Commission's separate reports on the introduction of absent voting personal identifiers in England and Wales and on the May 2007 local government elections note that the introduction of personal identifiers for postal voters has had a positive impact on the safety and security of the electoral system, and that at the 2007 elections, the scale and volume of allegations of offences were both considerably down on 2006. More recently, the Electoral Commission concluded in its report on the May 2008 local elections in England that the available information suggests that the scale and volume of allegations of offences during the elections in May 2008 were down on 2007.
	However, the Government are not complacent about the possibility of fraud, and we will keep the protections that are in place under review.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proposals on triggering were considered during the inter-party discussions on party funding.

Michael Wills: Sir Hayden Phillips's final report, published in March 2007, explicitly acknowledged the problem of unregulated spending at a constituency level. His preferred solution was to set spending limits to embrace all national and local party spending. The White Paper, Party finance and expenditure in the United Kingdom (CM7329), published in June 2008, makes clear that the Government broadly support the principle of an all-encompassing spending limit, but that we believe there are a number of practical concerns that would need to be addressed before this could be introduced. Given that cross-party support for Sir Hayden Phillips' fundamental package of reforms is not yet forthcoming, the Government have therefore proposed a return to the principle of triggering.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether campaign expenditure funded by political parties and incurred by hon. Members promoting their role as a Member of Parliament, outside a general election period, will be considered as local campaigning expenditure for the purposes of the new trigger rules;
	(2)  at what point national campaign expenditure at constituency level will fall within the scope of the proposed new trigger rules;
	(3)  at what point  (a) local association campaigning,  (b) third party campaigning and  (c) national party campaigning in a locality is proposed to be classified as local candidate spending for the purposes of the proposed new election trigger rules;
	(4)  whether direct mail correspondence to individual voters from  (a) trades unions and  (b) central political parties which does not mention local candidates will be considered local candidate expenditure for the purposes of the new election trigger rules.

Michael Wills: The proposal to reintroduce triggering in relation to the candidate expenditure limitcontained in clause 10 of the Political Parties and Elections Bill (Bill 141)will not alter the types of spending that do and do not count against the candidate expenditure limit. Rather, the proposal will alter the time period over which such expenditure is regulated. The key effect of the clause is to remove the requirement that only expenditure used after the date of Dissolution of Parliament is regulated by the expenditure limit. As is currently the case, expenses used by or on behalf of the candidate on matters listed in part 1 of schedule 4A of the Representation of the People Act, which are for the purposes of the candidate's election will be regulated by the candidate spending limit. The point at which such expenses will count against the limit is the point at which expenses are used for the purposes of the candidate's election. As is currently the case, national party campaigning in a constituency or locality will not count against a candidate's expenditure limit.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he gave to undertaking a formal consultation on his Department's proposals to introduce new trigger rules for local candidate expenditure.

Michael Wills: The Government's intention to reintroduce triggering in relation to local candidate expenditure at parliamentary general elections was announced in the White Paper, Party finance and expenditure in the United Kingdom (CM7329), published and debated by both Houses of Parliament on 16 June 2008. The Political Parties and Elections Bill containing the measure was introduced on 17 July 2008. This provided opportunity for scrutiny and discussion of the Bill prior to its detailed consideration by Parliament.
	The principle of triggeringthat expenditure limits be set in terms of the purpose for which expenditure is incurred rather than in terms of any specified time periodwas specifically endorsed by the 1998 Neill Committee Report and enjoyed broad cross-party support, prior to its removal by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration his Department has given to the introduction of guidance on the operation of the proposed new trigger rules in the Political Parties and Elections Bill to supersede the case law applicable to the old trigger rules.

Michael Wills: The Bill provides that, in addition to the existing power granted to the Electoral Commission to issue a code of practice giving guidance on the list of regulated matters for candidate spending (set out in Part 1 of Schedule 4A of the Representation of the People Act 1983, as inserted by the Electoral Administration Act 2006), the Commission may also include in any code of practice guidance on when expenditure will be for election purposes (i.e. the circumstances in which the candidate spending limits are triggered).
	This guidance will provide, where necessary, further clarity as to how the new rules will work in practice. It will not supplant any observations set out in existing case law as to how triggering will work in practice provided that those observations remain relevant. The precise relevance of pre-existing case law to the new regime will depend on the circumstances of each case and will ultimately be a matter for the courts to decide.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 15 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2028W, on political parties: finance, what consideration he gave to the Government  (a) Codes of Practice on Guidance on Regulations and  (b) Guide to Code of Practice on Guidance in formulating his policy on commencement of the new regulations on trigger rules before the issue of guidance on such regulations.

Michael Wills: The Government's Code of Practice on Guidance on Regulation and the Guide to the Code of Practice on Guidance apply to guidance provided by UK Government Departments and their Agencies. The guidance referred to in the previous question is to be provided by the Electoral Commission, not by the Government.
	Clause 19(4) of the Political Parties and Elections Bill (Bill 141) provides that clause 10 of that Bill will come into force on the date on which the Bill receives Royal Assent. However, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Jack Straw) indicated before the Justice Committee on 7 October 2008, I agree that guidance supplementing the Act should be in place from the Electoral Commission and, in the light of that, I am ready to look at the timing of the commencement of this clause.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the proposed guidance from the Electoral Commission on triggering will be statutory.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 17 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2290W.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in what circumstances local candidate campaigning expenditure incurred before Royal Assent to the Political Parties and Election Bill will be treated as triggering a candidate's elections expenses.

Michael Wills: There is express provision in the Political Parties and Elections Bill (in clause 10(5)) to make clear that the amendments made by that section do not apply to any expenses incurred before the commencement of that section. However, under section 90ZA of the Representation of the People Act 1983, as amended by the Bill, where expenses are incurred following commencement in respect of a matter listed in Schedule 4A to that Act and then used for the purposes of the candidate's election, the limit will have been triggered.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the impact assessment for the Political Parties and Elections Bill, what the evidential basis was for the estimate of five minutes' processing time per donation for the processing of a donation declaration; and what estimate his Department has made of the average time taken to verify the source of a donation.

Michael Wills: The estimates in the impact assessmentboth for processing declarations and for carrying out further verification checks in exceptional caseswere based on an assumption that the additional requirements on the parties to process declarations would be embedded to a degree within checks that they already carry out to ensure that the donations they accept are permissible under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
	The Government accept that a number of political parties are concerned that the impact assessment underestimates the compliance burden that the requirements of clause 8 might impose on political parties, and that the impact assessment understates the potential burden. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor indicated before the Public Bill Committee on 4 November, while we are aware that greater transparency is essential, it should not be achieved at the cost of overburdening political parties, and I am ready to consider raising the thresholds at which declarations are required.

Prison Service: Cost Effectiveness

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what cashable efficiency savings HM Prison Service is required to make in each of the next three years.

Maria Eagle: Budgets for those periods have not been agreed and it is not yet possible to report what savings will be required from HM Prison Service.

Prison Service: Taxis

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much the Prison Service has spent on taxis for prisoners in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many prisoner journeys in the Thames Valley region were made by taxi or other private hire vehicle; and at what cost in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07;
	(3)  on how many occasions during the last two years private by-hired taxis have been used to transport prisoners  (a) to and  (b) from Reading Young Offenders Institution; and what category the prisoners were on each occasion;
	(4)  for what use, and in what circumstances, private taxis are used for the transporting of prisoners from  (a) Reading Young Offenders Institution and  (b) other young offenders institutions across the country; and what guidance is given by his Department on such use.

David Hanson: Taxis are rarely used for transporting prisoners to and from court or for inter-prison transfers. On occasions they may be used for emergency transport, including hospital admission where an ambulance is not appropriate.
	A risk assessment is conducted to ensure that the use of a taxi is appropriate. No prisoner being transported by taxi in 2006-07 and 2007-08 has escaped.
	The cost of taxi fares are not recorded centrally and could be provided by contacting each prison only at a disproportionate cost.
	Not all prisons record the number of taxi journeys involving prisoners. However, I can say that in the two years to 29 October, there have been 111 incoming taxis with prisoners to Reading prison and 231 taxis to transport prisoners from Reading prison.
	Reading is a category C closed young offender institution, therefore all prisoners transported by taxi from and to Reading prison fall within this category.
	There is no specific guidance to establishments on this matter beyond the general requirement to ensure value for money and operate within delegated budgets.

Reoffenders: Drugs

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of re-offending rates after 12 months of those in receipt of  (a) a drug treatment and testing order and  (b) a drug rehabilitation requirement.

David Hanson: The following table shows the reoffending rate for offenders who started a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) and a drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) only between 1 January and 31 March, and reoffended within a year. The reoffending rate for offenders serving DTTOs reduced by 11.1 per cent. (8.8 percentage points) between 2002 and 2005 (due to the introduction of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the changes this had on probation, a comparison between 2002 and 2006 is not made).
	The results do not differentiate between those who successfully complete the order and those who do not. The evaluation of the Drug Treatment and Testing Order (Home Office Finding 184) compared reoffending over a two year follow up period for those made subject to a Drug Treatment and Testing Order over the 18 months to 31 March 2000. This compared the reconviction rate of those who successfully completed the order (53 per cent.) with those who did not (91 per cent.).
	The reoffending rate for offenders who started a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) and a drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) only between 1 January and 31 March, and reoffended within a year
	
		
			 Number of offenders  Actual reoffending rate (percentage)  Number of offences per 100 offenders 
			 DTTO 2002 Q1 991 79.1 421.8 
			  2003 Q1 1,336 77.3 390.9 
			  2004 Q1 1,724 72.6 332.1 
			  2005 Q1 1,923 70.3 306.9 
			  2006 Q1 116 59.5 194.8 
			   
			 DRR only 2006 Q1 221 62.4 233.0 
			   
			 DRR + other requirements 2006 Q1 2,812 66.4 275.9 
			  Notes: 1. The drop in DTTOs from 2005 to 2006 is due to the introduction of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. From 4 April 2005, the main types of court order supervision served to offenders are community orders (CO) and suspended sentence orders (SSO). Under these orders, one or more of 12 possible requirements must be added, such as supervision, unpaid work and drug treatment. DRRs came into effect under the CJA03; as a result, reoffending rates could only be produced for the 2006 cohort. Due to small numbers, data for 2000 are not provided. 2. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

Young Offenders Institutions

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many young people arrived at Ashfield Young Offenders Institution for admission after 9 pm between July 2005 and March 2008; what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of young people arriving at the institution for admission after 9 pm; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many times young people arrived at a young offenders institution after 7 pm in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2008, broken down by institution.

David Hanson: Escort contractors report that from a total of 7,847 young people under the age of 18 years escorted to HM young offenders institution, Ashfield between July 2005 and March 2008, 210 young people arrived after 9 pm. The Youth Justice Board is reviewing the current arrangements for the escort of young people.
	Information provided by the escort contractors on the number of times that young people aged under 18 years arrived at a prison or young offenders institution after 7 pm in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007, and  (c) 2008, is in the following tables. However, the agreed reception closure time for the majority of young offenders institutions is after 7 pm.
	
		
			  Young prisoners aged under 18 years delivered to young offenders institutions and prisons after 1900 hours 
			  1 January 2006 to 31 December 2006( 1) 
			  Establishment  Number arriving after 1900 hours  Places available for young people under 18 years( 2) 
			 HMP/YOI Ashfield 454 397 
			 HMYOI Brinsford 159 221 
			 HMP/YOI Castington 194 166 
			 HMP Cookham Wood 14 16 
			 HMP Downview 20 11 
			 HMP/YOI Eastwood Park 29 20 
			 HMP/YOI Feltham 148 213 
			 HMYOI Hindley 219 186 
			 HMYOI Huntercombe 62 368 
			 HMP/YOI Lancaster Farms 258 247 
			 HMP/YOI New Hall 37 26 
			 HMP/YOI Parc 9 35 
			 HMYOI Stoke Heath 524 129 
			 HMYOI Thorn Cross 18 43 
			 HMYOI Warren Hill 174 214 
			 HMYOI Werrington 90 156 
			 HMYOI Wetherby 153 356 
			 (1) This excludes young prisoners escorted from courts in the London and South East area for which data is unavailable. (2) At 31 October 2006. 
		
	
	
		
			  1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007 
			  Establishment  Number arriving after 1900 hours  Places available for young people under 18 years( 1) 
			 HMP/YOI Ashfield 875 391 
			 HMYOI Brinsford 192 162 
			 HMP/YOI Castington 182 157 
			 HMP Cookham Wood 8 15 
			 HMP Downview 23 16 
			 HMP/YOI Eastwood Park 35 14 
			 HMP/YOI Feltham 605 219 
			 HMP Foston Hall 37 11 
			 HMYOI Hindley 977 173 
			 HMYOI Huntercombe 325 363 
			 HMP/YOI Lancaster Farms 452 207 
			 HMP/YOI New Hall 58 24 
			 HMP/YOI Parc 19 58 
			 HMYOI Stoke Heath 563 137 
			 HMYOI Thorn Cross 22 40 
			 HMYOI Warren Hill 522 211 
			 HMYOI Werrington 103 147 
			 HMYOI Wetherby 368 360 
			 (1) At 31 October 2007. 
		
	
	
		
			  1 January 2008 to 30 September 2008 
			  Establishment  Number arriving after 1900 hours  Places available for young people under 18 years( 1) 
			 HMP/YOI Ashfield 540 346 
			 HMYOI Brinsford 57 108 
			 HMP/YOI Castington 78 141 
			 HMP Cookham Wood 13 77 
			 HMP Downview 30 13 
			 HMP/YOI Eastwood Park 45 12 
			 HMP/YOI Feltham 608 198 
			 HMP Foston Hall 17 13 
			 HMYOI Hindley 114 172 
			 HMYOI Huntercombe 407 332 
			 HMP/YOI Lancaster Farms 181 185 
			 HMP/YOI New Hall 30 25 
			 HMP/YOI Parc 12 57 
			 HMYOI Stoke Heath 337 194 
			 HMYOI Warren Hill 475 208 
			 HMYOI Werrington 93 123 
			 HMYOI Wetherby 130 328 
			 (1) At 31 October 2008.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to ensure that CAFCASS mediation, investigations and section 7 reports under the auspices of the Children Act 1989 include consideration of the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Each case, CAFCASS is involved in complies with the principles and detail of the Children Act 1989, which states at s1(1) that the child's welfare shall be the paramount consideration. CAFCASS also take account of the welfare checklist in the Act, which requires consideration of the capability not only of the parents, but any other person in relation to whom the court considers the question to be relevant.
	The Government recognise the important role played by family relatives in the lives of children and young people, including grandparents. The option of sole, shared or occasional care by grandparents is considered routinely by CAFCASS in its assessments, case analyses and case plans. At a national level, CAFCASS liaises with all the major organisations representing grandparents, and takes account of their views when shaping its policies.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of unregistered child minders operating in England; and what assessment has been made of trends in that number in recent years;
	(2)  how many unregistered child minders have been reported to  (a) his Department,  (b) Ofsted and  (c) another relevant authority in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: All child minders are required to be registered with Ofsted and to satisfy their safety and quality criteria.
	We do not hold information centrally concerning reports of unregistered child care providers.
	When completing their child care sufficiency assessments, local authorities should have developed an understanding of parents' use of informal child care as part of the context for assessing the sufficiency of formal child care.

Departmental Liability

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Details of all the Department's contingent liabilities are reported to Parliament on an annual basis in its statutory resource accounts and in its Supply Estimates. Details of contingent liabilities relating to the Department's non-departmental public bodies will be similarly published in their annual resource accounts.
	The publication dates for the Department's resource accounts for the last five years (including the former Department for Education and Skills) are:
	2007-08: 16 July 2008 (Department for Children, Schools and Families);
	2006-07: 16 July 2007 (Department for Education and Skills);
	2005-06: 20 July 2006 (Department for Education and Skills);
	2004-05: 23 November 2005 (Department for Education and Skills);
	2003-04: 27 January 2005 (Department for Education and Skills).

Departmental Mass Media

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which organisations provided media monitoring services to  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies in each of the last three years; and what the total cost was of each contract over that period.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department for Children, Schools and Families was supplied media monitoringTV, radio, newspapers, regional and nationalservices by the following organisations:
	Media Monitoring Unit of the Central Office of Information: 78,000 for 2008-09 and 2007-08 and 75,000 for 2006-07;
	Durrants: 150,000 p.a. for 2008-09 and 2007-08;
	Electronic Data Services: 163,000 p.a. for 2006-07;
	TNS: 12,000 for 2008-09;
	Government News Network: 30,000 for 2007-08 and 30,000 for 2006-07.
	We have no information on services used by the Department's agencies or non-departmental public bodies.

Faith Schools: Health Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 488W, on faith schools: health services, if he will place in the Library a copy of  (a) the questionnaire that was issued to teenage pregnancy co-ordinators in each top-tier local authority in England and  (b) the response received from each; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Copies of the questionnaire issued to teenage pregnancy co-ordinators and the subsequent report that summarised the findings of the mapping survey will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	The information provided to DCSF by the Sex Education Forumwhich carried out the mapping surveygave only the prevalence of on-site services nationally, and in each region and top-tier local authority. The individual questionnaires were completed by teenage pregnancy co-ordinators on the understanding that they would not be used in a way which could identify individual schools and this information is not held by this Department.

Foster Care

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many foster children aged  (a) 17,  (b) 18,  (c) 19 and  (d) 20 years were with foster families as at one appropriate date in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The available information can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Children looked after in foster placements at 31 March( 1, 2) 
			   Number of 17-year-olds looked after in foster placements  Total number of looked-after children in foster placements 
			 2004 2,000 41,200 
			 2005 2,100 41,300 
			 2006 2,200 41,600 
			 2007 2,400 42,100 
			 2008 2,500 42,300 
			 (1) Source: SSDA903 return on children looked after. (2) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements. 
		
	
	Young people above the age of 18 are not in care and their placements are not defined as foster care, therefore, the requested information is not available. However, increasing numbers of young people are staying with their former foster carers after they reach 18 and our Staying Put pilots support local authorities to make these arrangements.
	The Department collects statistics annually on the activity and accommodation of care leavers at age 19. The definitions of categories of accommodation do not currently include a 'with former foster carer' category. During the Report stage of the Children and Young Persons Bill on 8 October, the Minister for Schools and Learners announced that consideration would be given to amending, from 2010-11, the categories in this collection to highlight placement with former foster carers.

Health Education: Sex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to implement the recommendations of the Review of Sex and Relationship Education; whether he plans to consult on these recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Government published their response to the sex and relationships education (SRE) review on 23 October. This set out their response to each recommendation and their plans for further consultation. A copy of the Government's response is available at:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=13030

Powers of Entry

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many powers of entry have been  (a) introduced and  (b) abolished by his Department through legislation since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department on 22 October 2008,  Official Report, column 452W.

Pre-school Education: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many free nursery places for three and four year olds have been made available in Enfield North constituency since the establishment of the free nursery places scheme.

Beverley Hughes: The available information is shown in the tables.
	Table 1 provides information about the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four-year-olds in Enfield North parliamentary constituency area. Data at parliamentary constituency level are not yet available for 2008.
	
		
			  Part-time equivalent number of free early education places( 1,2,3)  filled by three and four-year-oldsparliamentary constituency: Enfield North 
			  Position in January each year 
			   Three-year-olds  Four-year-olds 
			   Maintained nursery and primary schools( 4)  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 5)  Total three-year-olds  Maintained nursery and primary schools( 6)  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 7)  Total four-year-olds 
			 2004 510 410 910 1,000 160 1,200 
			 2005 550 390 950 1,100 110 1,200 
			 2006 550 380 930 1,100 130 1,200 
			 2007 550 450 1,000 1,100 150 1,300 
			 (1) A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. (3) Prior to 2004, information on early education places was derived from returns made by local authorities as part of the Nursery Education Grant (NEG) data collection exercise. These data were collected at local authority level, therefore, data for this parliamentary constituency prior to 2004 is not available. (4) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (5) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. (6) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (7) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. 
		
	
	Table 2 provides information about the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four-year-olds for Enfield local authority area for the years 1999 to 2008.
	
		
			  Part-time equivalent number of free early education places( 1,2)  filled by three and four-year-oldslocal authority: Enfield 
			  Position in January each year 
			   Three-year-olds  Four-year-olds 
			   Maintained nursery and primary schools3  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers  Total three-year-olds  Maintained nursery and primary schools( 4)  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers  Total four-year-olds 
			 1999 1,200 n/a 1,200 n/a n/a (5,6)3,400 
			 2000 1,200 (7)0 1,200 n/a n/a (5,6)3,700 
			 2001 1,200 (7)1,000 2,300 n/a n/a (5,6)3,500 
			 2002 1,300 (7)930 2,200 3,100 (5)560 3,600 
			 2003 1,200 (7)1,100 2,400 3,100 (8)610 3,700 
			 2004 1,300 (9)1,400 2,700 2,900 (10)640 3,500 
			 2005 1,400 (9)1,400 2,800 3,100 (10)490 3,600 
			 2006 1,300 (9)1,500 2,800 3,000 (10)520 3,600 
			 2007 1,400 (9)1,600 2,900 3,100 (10)580 3,700 
			 2008 1,400 (9)1,700 3,100 3,300 (10)590 3,900 
			 n/a = Not available. (1) A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. (3) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (4) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (5) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise. (6) For the years 1999-2001, four-year-old sub national figures from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise cannot be disaggregated between the maintained and private, voluntary and independent sectors. (7) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise. (8) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census supplementary data collection exercise and the School Census. (9) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. (10) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. 
		
	
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release (SFR) 12/2008 Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2008, available on my Department's website:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000790/index.shtml

Primary Education: Nurses

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many primary schools do not have a school nurse.

Jim Knight: We do not hold this information. However, all primary schools have access to the school nursing service through their local primary care trust.

Primary Schools: Absenteeism

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government is taking to address non-attendance at primary schools.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department is determined to get overall absence down in all schools. Absence in 2006-07 (last complete year for which data have been published) was 6.49 per cent.the lowest level on record in state funded schools. Absence has been lower than 1996-97 levels in all but two of the last 10 years. And on average 58,000 more pupils were in school each day in 2006-07 than would be the case if absence rates were still at the level of a decade ago.
	We have achieved this considerable progress by targeting persistent absence in secondary schools. Secondary schools have higher absence rates than primary schools.
	We do not ignore primary schools. When the National Strategies visit a Local authority with high persistent absence in secondary schools they also work with the local authority attendance leader to determine what is happening in primary schools and the advice they give applies equally to primary schools. All local authorities update their actions to improve attendance and reduce persistent absence on a termly basis with the National Strategies regional adviser and primary attendance now is a focus of those discussions. All local authorities also have a standards meeting in the autumn term where targets and priorities are discussed. Although these meetings are still taking place many local authorities have decided to have persistent absence as a priority with particular reference to primary schools. The National Strategies are running a pilot on improving attendance in primary schools with a number of local authorities in London. We will carefully consider the lessons learned from that pilot and the implications for our policy to target persistent absence.

Pupil Exclusions: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many pupils were temporarily excluded more than  (a) once,  (b) five times and  (c) 10 times in Suffolk in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many pupils were permanently excluded more than  (a) once and  (b) twice in Suffolk in each of the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Data on the numbers of pupils with fixed period exclusions were collected for the first time for the school year 2003/04, therefore data can only be provided for the last four school years. Data on permanent exclusions are available for the last five years.
	However it is not possible, given the amount of analysis required, to provide a response to these questions within the timeframe required by Parliament. The requested information will be placed in the House of Commons Library within 10 working days.

School Leaving

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the percentage of pupils who will continue their education at their current secondary school when the requirement for young people to continue in education or training until the age of 18 comes into effect.

Jim Knight: Our proposals would not raise the school leaving age, but would introduce compulsory participation in some form of learning post-16. This could be in full-time education; work-based learning; or part-time education or training alongside full-time employment. The local authority will plan learning provision based on an assessment of the needs in the area and young people will be able to choose which route to follow. We have not estimated the percentage of pupils who will continue at their current secondary school.

School Leaving

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether schools for pupils aged 11 to 16 years old will be required to provide education for a further year when the requirement for young people to continue in education or training until the age of 18 comes into effect; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Our intention is that from 2013 all young people will be required to carry on in some form of education or training post-16. This would not have to be at a school, and young people could choose to participate through full-time education, including at school or college; work-based learning; or part-time accredited training alongside full-time employment. Schools which currently provide education up to age 16 will not be required to provide an additional year of education as a result of this policy.

Schools: Choice Advisers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect choice advisers have had on standards in education; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many choice advisers were employed in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Choice Advice is an independent service commissioned by local authorities to support the minority of parents who most need help to negotiate the secondary school admissions process. We would not expect Choice Advice to have a measurable impact on standards in education. We would expect it to have a positive impact on the parents who have accessed it, in terms of the ease with which they were able to negotiate the admissions process and the extent to which they felt able to make appropriate choices for their child.
	We recently funded Sheffield Hallam University to conduct an evaluation of Choice Advice in 15 case study local authorities. The report will be published later this month and will be available at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/ and will include an evaluation of the impact that Choice Advice had on the parents who accessed it.
	The Choice Advice initiative was launched in September 2006 and we set a target of September 2008 for every local authority to have a Choice Advice service in place. Local authorities have the flexibility to make Choice Advice available in the way which best meets local needs. Some may employ only one choice adviser while others may find they need more than one. Similarly, some may employ full time choice advisers while others may employ choice advisers on a seasonal basis.
	Information provided by local authorities to the Choice Advisers Support and Quality Assurance Network indicate that, by September 2007, there were 183 choice advisers employed across England and, by September 2008, there were 251 choice advisers employed across England.

Schools: Crime

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many incidents in  (a) primary schools and  (b) secondary schools involved (i) knives and (ii) drugs in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Schools are generally safe places for pupils and staff.
	The Department does not collect information on the number of knives confiscated from pupils in schools, and there is no duty on schools to report to the Department when they find a weapon on a pupil.
	The Department does not record each individual incident that involves drugs, however such incidents are recorded if they lead to an exclusion. In 2006-07 there were 400 permanent exclusions in secondary schools related to drugs or alcohol which is around 5.3 per cent. of all permanent exclusions in secondary schools for that year. There were 60 fixed term exclusion related to drugs and alcohol in primary schools (0.1 per cent. of all primary school fixed term exclusions), and 7,840 in secondary schools (2.2 per cent. of all secondary schools fixed term exclusions).

Special Educational Needs

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools for pupils with special needs have  (a) been opened and  (b) closed in England since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Pupils with special educational needs are likely to be attending all types of school. My Department's records, based on information provided by local authorities, indicate that the following numbers of schools have opened and closed since 1997:
	
		
			  Number of establishments opened in England since 1997 
			  Type of establishment  Total 
			 Academies 130 
			 Community 1,065 
			 Community special 172 
			 European schools 2 
			 Foundation 37 
			 Voluntary aided 208 
			 Voluntary controlled 106 
			 Non-maintained special schools 19 
			 Independent mainstream schools 532 
			 Independent schools catering wholly or mainly for pupils with SEN approved under section 347 of the Education Act 1996 19 
			 Independent schools catering wholly or mainly for pupils with SEN not approved under section 347 of the Education Act 1996 372 
			   
			 Grand total 2,662 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of establishments closed in England since 1997 
			  Type of establishment  Total 
			 City technology college 12 
			 Community 2,548 
			 Community special 374 
			 Foundation 66 
			 Foundation special 5 
			 Voluntary aided 316 
			 Voluntary controlled 218 
			 Non-maintained special schools 14 
			 Independent mainstream schools 779 
			 Independent schools catering wholly or mainly for pupils with SEN approved under section 347 of the Education Act 1996 17 
			 Independent schools catering wholly or mainly for pupils with SEN not approved under section 347 of the Education Act 1996 71 
			   
			 Grand total 4,420 
			  Source: Compiled from EduBase 
		
	
	Schools can be opened and closed for a number of reasons including the need to meet demographic changes (e.g. population decline); as part of an amalgamation; as part of another type of local reorganisation; or, changes to age ranges such as a primary school being created from formerly separate infants' and junior schools. Each of these examples would result in opening or closure (or both) being recorded.
	In this context, between 1986 and 1997 there was a net reduction of 234 maintained special schools, and between 1997 and 2008 there has been a net reduction of 172 maintained special schools.